The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced its squads for the upcoming multi-format tour of India, making a notable omission by leaving out star leg-spinner Rashid Khan from the one-off Test match. While Rashid has been rested from the longest format to manage his workload and physical longevity, key players Azmatullah Omarzai, Sediqullah Atal, and veteran batsman Rahmat Shah have returned to the red-ball setup. The highly anticipated one-off Test match against India is scheduled to begin on June 6 at the newly constructed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Managing Rashid’s Workload

According to team sources, the decision to leave Rashid Khan out of the red-ball fixture came after direct consultations with head coach Richard Pybus. The team management is prioritizing Rashid’s long-term fitness, given his heavy workload across international cricket and global T20 leagues. Rashid, who last played a Test match in July 2025, will however return to captain the side for the subsequent limited-overs segment. In his absence from the Test arena, the spin bowling responsibilities will be spearheaded by Qais Ahmad, alongside Sharafuddin Ashraf and young Nangeyalia Kharote.

Key Names Rejoin Red-Ball Setup

Experienced middle-order batsman Rahmat Shah makes a welcome return to the Test side. Having featured in 11 of Afghanistan’s 12 historic Test matches, Shah’s experience will be crucial on a fresh subcontinental track in New Chandigarh. He missed the country’s last Test assignment against Zimbabwe but is expected to anchor the top order here. Alongside him, explosive all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and top-order batter Sediqullah Atal have earned recalls to the 15-member squad led by regular skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. Both Atal and Omarzai have played just a single Test match each so far, both coming during the 2024 series against Zimbabwe.

Transition in the Pace Battery

For the three-match ODI series starting on June 14, left-arm fast bowler Fareed Malik has earned a recall to the white-ball squad. Malik, who last played an ODI in 2024, adds variation and raw pace to a bowling line-up that relies heavily on its spinners. The rest of the ODI squad remains largely identical to the combination that secured a comprehensive series clean-sweep over Bangladesh late last year, signaling that selectors are looking for structural stability ahead of upcoming multi-nation ICC tournaments.

New Venue to Make Test Debut

The one-off Test will mark a historical milestone for Punjab cricket, as the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh prepares to host its first-ever five-day international match from June 6 to June 10. Local authorities have confirmed that pitch preparations are underway to ensure a balanced contest between bat and ball. Following the Test match, the tour moves to the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala for the first ODI, before traveling to Lucknow and Chennai for the final two games.

Fresh Faces in the Indian Roster

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously announced its squad, naming young batsman Shubman Gill as the captain for both formats, while veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feature exclusively in the ODI team. The selectors have rested frontline speedster Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to manage their workloads. Interestingly, dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has earned an ODI recall after nearly three years out of the format. The Indian squads also boast several uncapped domestic standouts, including Prince Yadav in the ODI team, spinner Manav Suthar in the Test squad, and all-rounders Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey across both formats.

Touring Squads for the Series

Afghanistan Test Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi, Saleem Safi.

Afghanistan ODI Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami.

India Test Squad: Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.

India ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.

Five Teams in Hunt for Lone Playoff Spot as League Stage Nears Climax

Race for Fourth Berth Intensifies After Hyderabad Secures Top Three Finish

The playoff framework for the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League is down to its final jigsaw puzzle piece. Following Sunrisers Hyderabad’s comprehensive victory over Chennai Super Kings on Monday, three out of the four knockout slots have been formally locked. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have punched their tickets forward. This leaves five desperate teams—Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals—scrambling over a solitary remaining spot.

Monday's results altered the table significantly. By defeating Chennai at Chepauk, Hyderabad climbed to 16 points, simultaneously guaranteeing passage for themselves and the second-placed Gujarat Titans.

Bengaluru Stays Firmly Anchored at Top

Royal Challengers Bengaluru continues to dictate terms from the top of the standings. Holding 18 points alongside a dominant net run rate of +1.065, the Bengaluru franchise has not only qualified but is also practically certain of a Qualifier-1 appearance. Their final league fixture against a surging Sunrisers Hyderabad unit on May 22 will likely decide who carries the momentum into the playoffs.

High Stakes for Titans and Hyderabad

For Gujarat Titans, currently occupying the second spot with 16 points (+0.400), the assignment is clear. To retain their top-two status and guarantee two cracks at reaching the final, they must overcome a wounded Chennai squad in their upcoming encounter.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad's five-wicket win over CSK pushed them to third position with 16 points from 13 games. An upcoming blockbuster against Bengaluru gives SRH an outside chance to sneak into the top two, provided other variables swing in their favour.

Mid-Table Jam Spells Trouble for Contenders

Punjab Kings are currently perched at fourth with 13 points, but their recent form suggests trouble. A bruising run of six consecutive defeats has stalled their campaign. Local reports from the camp indicate immense pressure to break the jinx in their high-stakes final match against Lucknow Super Giants.

Current Top Race Contenders:

- PBKS: 13 pts (1 match left)

- RR: 12 pts (2 matches left)

- CSK: 12 pts (1 match left)

- DC: 12 pts (1 match left)

- KKR: 11 pts (2 matches left)

Rajasthan Royals find themselves under a similar pump in fifth place with 12 points. Unlike the sides around them, the Royals hold a slight mathematical cushion with two games left against Lucknow and Mumbai. Sources familiar with the team’s strategy suggest that only two out-and-out wins will satisfy management to clear the top-four threshold cleanly.

Chennai and Delhi Facing Steep Odds

The defeat on Monday has thrown defending combinations out of gear for Chennai Super Kings. Stranded on 12 points from 13 matches, their negative net run rate leaves them heavily reliant on winning their final fixture against Gujarat, while hoping for a absolute collapse from Punjab and Rajasthan.

Delhi Capitals find themselves in a similar mathematical purgatory. Despite sitting on 12 points, a severe net run rate of -0.871 hampers their prospects. For Axar Patel’s men to miracle their way into the final four, they require a colossal victory over Kolkata, alongside favourable results elsewhere.

Individual Bragging Rights Intensify Alongside Team Race

Cap Holders Guard Their Turf

Away from team permutations, individual honors are keeping statisticians busy. Sunrisers Hyderabad's middle-order engine Heinrich Klaasen reclaimed the Orange Cap following his match-winning contributions, sitting at 555 runs from 13 innings. He is closely shadowed by Gujarat's Sai Sudharsan (554 runs) and captain Shubman Gill (552 runs).

On the bowling front, RCB’s veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds onto the Purple Cap with 24 scalps to his name. Kagiso Rabada (21 wickets) and domestic standout Anshul Kamboj (20 wickets) remain hot on his heels.

With Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants already out of mathematical contention, the final week of league cricket promises relentless drama.

IPL returns to Raipur after a decade: MI and RCB face off as weather and dew factor loom large

RAIPUR: The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium is buzzing with an energy it hasn’t felt in ten years. As the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) makes its long-awaited return to the Chhattisgarh capital, the opening clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday evening promises high drama, balanced precariously against unpredictable weather patterns and a pitch known to favor the hunters.

Rain disrupts final practice

Preparations hit a brief snag on Saturday evening when a sudden downpour forced both teams to cut their practice sessions short. The ground staff moved quickly to cover the square, but the moisture left behind is expected to play a decisive role in the opening overs.

According to the local Met department, while the sky will likely remain overcast this evening, a repeat of Saturday’s heavy rain is unlikely. "There is a possibility of light dust storms and patchy clouds, but we don't anticipate a washout," an official stated.

Chasing remains the trend

History suggests that the toss will be more than just a formality in Raipur. Analysis of the six IPL matches played here previously shows that the team batting second has won four times. Only twice has a team successfully defended a total on this ground.

Local curators suggest that the humidity and the previous evening's rain will keep the outfield damp, potentially making the ball difficult to grip for spinners in the later stages, further tilting the scales in favor of the side chasing.

Seamers eye early movement

The "Raipur pitch" usually offers a fair contest, but the recent weather has added a layer of intrigue. With moisture trapped under the covers, fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah might find significant seam movement and swing in the first six overs.

Batters are expected to struggle initially as the new ball might stop or hold in the surface. However, once the initial period is negotiated, the track is known to flatten out, allowing for the kind of stroke-play fans expect from the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Focus on star performers

Despite the rain interruption, Mumbai Indians’ veteran opener Rohit Sharma looked sharp in the nets, focusing heavily on his signature pull shots. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah spent nearly an hour with the training staff, refining his run-up and executing specific fitness drills.

The MI camp seems to be relying heavily on their pace battery to exploit the early conditions. Sources close to the team management indicated that the focus remains on discipline in the powerplay, given the ground’s large dimensions which make clearing the ropes a challenge compared to smaller venues like the Chinnaswamy.

RCB’s fresh perspective

Addressing the media on Saturday, RCB’s young all-rounder Jacob Bethell appeared unfazed by the pressure of the big stage. "Sharing a dressing room with legends takes the pressure off rather than adding to it," Bethell said.

He acknowledged the challenge of adapting to Raipur's conditions after a decade-long IPL hiatus at the venue. While RCB has a mixed record here—including a win against Delhi in 2016—the current squad is banking on their middle-order flexibility to tackle the Raipur heat and the potential turn for spinners in the middle overs.

Strict security and guidelines

With a sell-out crowd expected, Raipur Police has issued a detailed traffic route map to prevent bottlenecks on the highways leading to the stadium. Fans have been advised to reach the venue well before the 7:30 PM start.

The administration has enforced a strict "no-carry" list, banning items ranging from large bags and laptops to umbrellas and even pens. Raipur Collector Dr. Gaurav Singh reviewed the security arrangements on-site, ensuring that CCTV surveillance and volunteer deployments are in place for the double-header week, with RCB scheduled to play KKR next on May 13.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Emotional After RR Loss; KKR Players Break Down in Tears

Youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was seen being consoled by KKR staff while Varun Chakaravarthy revealed an emotional dressing room atmosphere after their first win.

The high-octane environment of IPL 2026 witnessed a rare display of raw vulnerability on Monday night as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinched a much-needed four-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR). While the result altered the points table, the post-match visuals of 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in tears sparked a massive wave of support across social media.

The defeat marked the second consecutive loss for the Rajasthan Royals, who missed a crucial opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the standings. For KKR, the victory ended a dismal five-match losing streak, providing a massive shot of adrenaline to their stuttering campaign.

Heartbreak for the Youngster

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the youngest player in the tournament, was spotted sitting alone in the dugout long after the final ball was bowled. The explosive left-hander appeared visibly distraught, seemingly taking the burden of the narrow defeat upon his young shoulders.

The image of the teenager reflecting on the loss quickly became the Latest News Today across digital platforms. Despite his age, Sooryavanshi has been a pivotal part of the RR setup, and his reaction underscored the immense pressure associated with the franchise league.

Sportsmanship Beyond the Boundary

In a gesture that exemplified the spirit of the game, KKR fielding coach Dishant Yagnik was seen approaching the youngster. Yagnik spent several minutes talking to Sooryavanshi, offering words of encouragement and a comforting shoulder.

The KKR support staff’s intervention highlighted the camaraderie that exists within the IPL ecosystem, regardless of team loyalties. Fans and pundits alike praised Yagnik for prioritizing the mental well-being of a young athlete over the night’s competitive rivalry.

Vikram Rathour Urges Patience

Rajasthan Royals head coach Vikram Rathour addressed the media following the game, focusing heavily on Sooryavanshi’s trajectory. Rathour dismissed immediate calls for a national call-up, urging the cricketing fraternity to let the youngster evolve naturally.

“There are five selectors for him and they are very capable,” Rathour stated. He emphasized that prediction is unnecessary at this stage, noting that the talent will eventually find its way to the Indian national side when the time is right.

Tears in KKR Dressing Room

While the RR camp was dealing with the sting of defeat, the KKR camp was overwhelmed by the relief of winning. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy made a startling revelation about the atmosphere inside the Kolkata dressing room.

Chakaravarthy noted that the win felt more significant than their 2024 title victory. He revealed that several senior players were moved to tears, exhausted by the mounting pressure of their previous five losses and the "baseless" outside criticism directed at the squad.

Overcoming the Outside Noise

According to Chakaravarthy, the coaching staff played a monumental role in keeping the unit together. He credited the management for shielding the players from social media scrutiny and maintaining a strong core during their winless run.

The spinner's candid admission offered a rare look into the mental toll professional cricket takes on athletes. He emphasized that the victory was a testament to the team’s resilience in the face of widespread judgment from critics.

Shifting Points Table Dynamics

This result has significant implications for the tournament standings. KKR has managed to climb to the eighth spot, effectively pushing Mumbai Indians to the bottom of the table. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, remain in the top four but have lost the momentum they built early in the season.

The win provides KKR a glimmer of hope for a late-season surge. For RR, the focus remains on ensuring that their young talents, like Sooryavanshi, recover quickly from this emotional setback as the race for the playoffs intensifies.

The Road Ahead

As the tournament progresses, the spotlight will remain on how Sooryavanshi bounces back from this encounter. His passion has clearly marked him as a high-potential Public Interest Story within Indian cricket circles.

With the India News Update focusing on these human elements of the sport, the narrative of IPL 2026 is shifting from pure statistics to the psychological endurance of its players. KKR will next look to build on this momentum, while RR prepares for a crucial mid-week fixture to stabilize their position.