The selectors are probably going to name a second-string Indian team with Hardik Pandya as the captain for the home series against Afghanistan.

According to the news agency PTI, prominent Indian cricketers such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj may be rested from the three-match ODI series at home against Afghanistan. 

Reports of the mini series were in peril because of India’s confined timetable however BCCI is probably going to proceed with the series, which was declared by board secretary Jay Shah last month. The selectors are probably going to name a second-string team with Hardik Pandya as the skipper.

The series has not yet been scheduled, but it is likely to take place in the third or fourth week of the following month, between the WTC final and India’s tour of the West Indies. Keeping the responsibility of any semblance of Rohit, Kohli, and Shami as a main priority, the board has chosen to give them a breather.

The majority of the top Indian cricketers are engaged with the IPL, a two-extended competition, and some of them will likewise highlight in the WTC last against Australia at The Oval from June 7. India likewise have an undeniable three-design tour through the West Indies arranged in July, where an original capacity Indian side is set to travel. They will play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies from July 12 to August 13, after which the group is supposed to play a three-match T20I series in Ireland.

As a result, including Rohit and Kohli in the Afghanistan series is almost impossible. This could open the entryways for IPL entertainers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

While Mirwais Ashraf, president of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), is in India for the IPL final, the Indian and Afghan cricket boards may also finalize the details of their proposed white-ball series during a meeting with members of the Asian Cricket Council.

The report likewise guaranteed that Rohit, Kohli and even Hardik Pandya may be refreshed from the Ireland series remembering the Asia Cup.

The ACC board individuals will meet uninvolved with the IPL last to conclude the fate of the Asia Cup 2023, and that implies that the responsibility will just increase for the Indian players, considering that there is an exceedingly significant 50-over World Cup arranged for October-November.

The BCCI planning to send a second string team for the Afghanistan series in June. (Reported by TOI). pic.twitter.com/qxHw3RCfG8

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 25, 2023

The Asia Cup 2023 is expected to be played in September if all goes according to plan. This means that Indian players will have a hard time finding time to rest and recover. Key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer have already been hurt a lot, and there is no clear timetable for when they will be back. In addition, India will conclude World Cup preparations in September with a three-match ODI series against Australia, the second of its kind this year.

As indicated by Source, the BCCI is finding it hard to plan the Afghanistan series, proposed to have three ODIs, given the time constraint and furthermore on the grounds that the broadcast deal with Disney Star has finished and a new tender is yet to be issued.

“BCCI media rights tender will be on schedule this year (June-July) and will depend on the Afghanistan tour, but more likely the process will start from the Australia series. The Board will speak to all stakeholders concerned and will come up with an interim decision.”

a senior BCCI secretary Jay Shah during an earlier interaction with media in Mumbai had said.