India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has confirmed that Mohammed Siraj is fit for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, and suggested the side could hand debuts to two new spinners.
Siraj available
Earlier reports had indicated Siraj might miss the match, with Auqib Nabi possibly brought in as cover. At the pre-match press conference, ten Doeschate dismissed those concerns, saying Siraj is fit and ready. The right-arm quick is expected to lead the pace attack when India play at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on June 6.
Nabi’s position is now clear too. He stays with the squad, but only as a net bowler for this game.
Spin options
Ten Doeschate also left the door open for new faces in the XI. Uncapped spinners Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar are both strong contenders for debuts, with the final choice dependent on team balance alongside frontline spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Washington Sundar. He said there is a small chance both newcomers play, and that the partners for Kuldeep and Sundar have not yet been settled.
Dubey and Suthar earned their first national call-ups after steady domestic performances over several seasons. They also know each other well from their age-group cricket.
Not a WTC fixture
The Test begins on June 6 in New Chandigarh. It does not count towards the World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle, because Afghanistan are not currently among the top tier of ICC-ranked teams.
