The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to officially announce Team India’s squads for the upcoming multi-format home series against Afghanistan on May 19. The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the selection committee is set to meet and finalize the squad for both the Test and ODI formats. The tour is set to commence shortly after the IPL and there could be some interesting maiden call-ups to the squad as some players could be rested for workload management.

“The selection committee will meet on May 19 to pick the Indian team for the home series against Afghanistan," said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia to TOI. The squad selection for this series would be one of the most awaited decisions for the Indian men’s team. The Indian Premier League has set the stage for many youngsters to come out and exhibit their talents for the world to see. With many of the players having fans advocating for their debut in the national side, this could be one of the most critical points for many of the experts.

IPL stars battle for national selection as India begin preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup

While established superstars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are fully expected to return to action for the 50-over format, the selectors are heavily focused on introducing fresh talent. With a white-ball tour to England just around the corner, the young players will be waiting for their national call-up. Young batting prodigies such as Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are being backed for Test spots and ODI backup roles. They have displayed some fine batting performances in the IPL 2026 and the selectors will most definitely have an eye for them.  

Meanwhile, the bowling department promises intense competition, featuring the highly anticipated return of veteran frontline pacer Mohammed Shami. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also emerged as a contender for a return to the national side with his phenomenal bowling performances for RCB. The young pacers who have caught the attention of the cricketing fans are Anshul Kamboj, Prince Yadav and Kartik Tyagi. They have excelled in the tournament with their consistent performances and lethal wicket-taking abilities in crunch moments of the game.

With the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, these matches will play a fundamental role in finalising the pool of players set to represent the country in the next ODI World Cup. Crucially, this series marks the formal commencement of India’s long-term visual roadmap and preparation cycle for the 2027 ODI World Cup.