India has officially unveiled a dynamic, revamped lineup for their one-off Test match against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Indian captain Shubman Gill introduced an XI heavily focused on tactical balance and fresh talent as the hosts look to move past recent home-soil struggles.

The headline selection news centers around a massive milestone for Rajasthan's breakout left-arm spinner, Manav Suthar, who has officially been handed his maiden Test cap.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

On bench: Gurnoor Brar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Devdutt Padikkal.

Suthar's Big Break

Manav Suthar’s inclusion is a reward for his relentless performances on the domestic circuit, particularly in the Ranji Trophy where his accuracy and wicket-taking ability forced the selectors' hands. His debut marks a significant moment for Indian cricket, making him the first specialist spinner to earn a Test debut for the national side since 2021.

Suthar will link up with the seasoned wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and dynamic all-rounder Washington Sundar to form a highly versatile three-pronged spin attack designed to test the technical limits of the Afghan batting order.