Jaiswal Left Out, Two New Faces In! Shubman Gill Reveals India’s Big ODI Experiment Against Afghanistan

India kicked off their ODI series against Afghanistan with a bold selection call as captain Shubman Gill confirmed that young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was left out of the playing XI, while Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey received their maiden ODI caps.

The first ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, was heavily affected by rain, forcing officials to reduce the contest to 25 overs per side. Despite the weather interruptions, the match offered India an opportunity to test new combinations as preparations for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup gather momentum.

After winning the toss, Gill elected to field first, citing the overcast conditions and the possibility of early assistance for the fast bowlers.

Speaking at the toss, the Indian skipper made it clear that the team management is focused on building depth and identifying the right combinations ahead of future tournaments.“It’s all about trying different combinations to see what works for us. We’re playing around 15-20 ODIs before the World Cup, so it’s about trying things,” Gill said.

His statement also explained the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with Prince Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav, from the playing XI. The decision reflects India’s willingness to rotate players and give emerging talents opportunities on the international stage.

Two Debutants Get Their Moment

The spotlight was firmly on Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey, who earned their first ODI appearances for India. Both players have impressed in domestic cricket and now have the chance to prove themselves at the highest level.

Their inclusion comes at a time when several senior stars are unavailable. India entered the match without experienced names such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Mohammed Siraj, who are either being rested or recovering from injuries.

The absence of these established performers has opened the door for fresh talent, allowing the selectors to assess the squad’s bench strength.

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Afghanistan Ready For The Challenge

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted that facing India in Indian conditions remains a significant challenge but expressed confidence in his side’s preparation.

Shahidi highlighted the team’s balanced bowling attack, featuring a mix of pace and spin options, and stressed the importance of starting strongly against a formidable Indian lineup.

Afghanistan have enjoyed steady growth in white-ball cricket over recent years and will view this series as another opportunity to test themselves against one of the world’s strongest teams.

India’s Playing XI

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.

Afghanistan’s Playing XI

Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper), Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem Safi, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

As India continue to reshape their ODI squad for the future, all eyes will be on the debutants and the team’s new-look combination. While the omission of Jaiswal may surprise many fans, Gill’s comments suggest that experimentation and squad development remain the priority in India’s World Cup roadmap.