India will play their 522nd Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting June 14 and their opponents on this occasion are Afghanistan, who will be making their debut in the longest format of the game. This will be the fourth time that India will be play the opponents to a debutant Test side after Pakistan in 1952; Zimbabwe in 1992 and Bangladesh in 2000. While India won the game versus Pakistan by an innings and 70 runs and Bangladesh by 9 wickets, they managed to draw with Zimbabwe after surviving a scare.

Now, it’s time for the spin-heavy Afghanistan side to test India in their inaugural five-day game.

Afghanistan, however, have caught a lot of attention ahead of the game with India since some of their players have already made a name for themselves in international cricket – in the one-day international and Twenty20 formats. It is to be seen now whether they can replicate their performances in the limited overs format in the longest one.

India will be led by Ajinkya Rahane, who was picked as the captain after the regular skipper Virat Kohli opted out while the visitors will play under the leadership of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/afghanistan-cricketers-skip-media-meet-and-greet-choose-to-focus-on-test-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asghar Stanikzai</a>.

There are a few names from both the competing sides to look forward to during this game, depending on their recent performances and reputation. Here we pick five such players who could make a real difference in their respective team’s pursuit for a win:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-215502" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishant-Sharma-1.jpg" alt="Ishant Sharma" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-215502" class="wp-caption-text">Ishant Sharma of India celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 29-year-old lanky pacer though had an injury scare during his county stint with Sussex, Ishant Sharma has been in a good touch which makes him a key member in the hosts’ bowling line-up against Afghanistan. After getting ignored for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sharma made an impressive county debut claiming five wickets in his first game and has continued  to do well. This preparation of Sharma, who has 234 wickets in 80 Tests, is much likely make him effective in the upcoming England series but the Afghanistan batsmen will also have to take an extra bit of care while playing Sharma.

The Delhi bowler took eight wickets in the two Tests he played last, against South Africa, but could be a completely different customer after his county stint. He will also know that the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah who were not picked for the Afghanistan game will make the competition tough and hence make the most of the opportunity that he has.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-260038" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rashid.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-260038" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Not many 19-year-olds have caught so much attraction as has Rashid Khan before his debut Test. Having already made the record as the fastest bowler to grab 100 ODI wickets and the second joint-fastest to get 50 wickets in the T20Is, the googly bowler now has the final frontier to conquer: Test which is played with the red ball.

For Afghanistan, Khan is almost an equivalent of Sachin Tendulkar in his late teens, as his side looks up to him to deliver whenever it is required. The man has a great opportunity to deliver in his debut Test against a batting line-up which doesn’t have Virat Kohli and features some names that aren’t in their best of form. A fifer on his debut Test on the lines of Zimbabwe’s John Traicos in 1992 and Bangladesh’s Nairmur Rahman in 2000 and Khan could be a superstar overnight.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-85660" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="600" height="466" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85660" class="wp-caption-text">Lokesh Rahul of India. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

After a dream IPL, KL Rahul will be back to his home ground to take on Afghanistan and given the kind of form he is in, one wouldn’t be surprised if he batters all batters’ record in Test in this game. Rahul, who hit a ton against Australia in Sydney in just his third innings in 2014, has evolved as a solid opening batsman for India though he hasn’t scored a hundred in Tests since his magnificent 199 against England in Chennai in December 2016. He had a forgettable Test series in South Africa earlier this year and he will know very well that this Afghanistan Test could be his chance to keep a place in the playing XI intact ahead of the demanding England series.

His last Test outing in Bengaluru produced half centuries in both innings (90 &amp; 51) against Australia in March 2017 and the team management will expect a massive display from him in the one-off Test.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-228756" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Shahzad.jpg" alt="Mohammad Shahzad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-228756" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The burly 30-year-old wicket-keeper of the visiting side is known for his batting prowess and he will be one of the key members of the Afghanistan side in this historic Test. Shahzad even has an unbeaten double century in first-class cricket and he is Afghanistan’s highest scorer in T20Is and second-highest scorer in ODIs.

Shahzad is a character who adds more colour to the game, thanks to his batting brilliance and no holding-back attitude when emotions run high. Shahzad could be one of Stanikzai’s main trump cards in the upcoming game versus India.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-99478" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Karun-Nair-2.jpg" alt="Karun Nair" width="600" height="414" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99478" class="wp-caption-text">Karun Nair. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Only the second Indian to score a triple ton in Tests, Karun Nair has surprisingly not been a regular name yet in India’s cricketing circuits, unlike the other triple centurion Virender Sehwag. Having made his debut in November 2016, Nair has played only six Tests and seven innings so far, scoring 374 runs which means his other 71 runs came in six innings (average 11.83).

Nair needed a chance to show that he is not a one-innings wonder and his opportunity might come against Afghanistan in the absence of the Virat Kohlis and Rohit Sharmas. The 26-year-old Rajasthan batsman was already playing the mind game with the Afghans, responding to the visiting skipper Stanikzai’s quip that his spinners were better than India.

Afghan spinners were yet to prove their mettle in the longest format was Nair’s reply. The right-handed batsman who gave his Mustang the number 303 is now looking to conquer newer peaks and not remain stuck in the past. The Bengaluru Test could be his chance to seal his berth in the side.

India will play their 522nd Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting June 14 and their opponents on this occasion are Afghanistan, who will be making their debut in the longest format of the game. This will be the fourth time that India will be play the opponents to a debutant Test side after Pakistan in 1952; Zimbabwe in 1992 and Bangladesh in 2000. While India won the game versus Pakistan by an innings and 70 runs and Bangladesh by 9 wickets, they managed to draw with Zimbabwe after surviving a scare.
Now, it’s time for the spin-heavy Afghanistan side to test India in their inaugural five-day game.
Afghanistan, however, have caught a lot of attention ahead of the game with India since some of their players have already made a name for themselves in international cricket – in the one-day international and Twenty20 formats. It is to be seen now whether they can replicate their performances in the limited overs format in the longest one.
India will be led by Ajinkya Rahane, who was picked as the captain after the regular skipper Virat Kohli opted out while the visitors will play under the leadership of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/afghanistan-cricketers-skip-media-meet-and-greet-choose-to-focus-on-test-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asghar Stanikzai</a>.
There are a few names from both the competing sides to look forward to during this game, depending on their recent performances and reputation. Here we pick five such players who could make a real difference in their respective team’s pursuit for a win:
<h3>1. Ishant Sharma (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_215502" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-215502" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-215502" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishant-Sharma-1.jpg" alt="Ishant Sharma" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-215502" class="wp-caption-text">Ishant Sharma of India celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 29-year-old lanky pacer though had an injury scare during his county stint with Sussex, Ishant Sharma has been in a good touch which makes him a key member in the hosts’ bowling line-up against Afghanistan. After getting ignored for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sharma made an impressive county debut claiming five wickets in his first game and has continued &nbsp;to do well. This preparation of Sharma, who has 234 wickets in 80 Tests, is much likely make him effective in the upcoming England series but the Afghanistan batsmen will also have to take an extra bit of care while playing Sharma.
The Delhi bowler took eight wickets in the two Tests he played last, against South Africa, but could be a completely different customer after his county stint. He will also know that the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah who were not picked for the Afghanistan game will make the competition tough and hence make the most of the opportunity that he has.

<h3>2. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_260038" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260038" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-260038" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rashid.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-260038" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Not many 19-year-olds have caught so much attraction as has Rashid Khan before his debut Test. Having already made the record as the fastest bowler to grab 100 ODI wickets and the second joint-fastest to get 50 wickets in the T20Is, the googly bowler now has the final frontier to conquer: Test which is played with the red ball.
For Afghanistan, Khan is almost an equivalent of Sachin Tendulkar in his late teens, as his side looks up to him to deliver whenever it is required. The man has a great opportunity to deliver in his debut Test against a batting line-up which doesn’t have Virat Kohli and features some names that aren’t in their best of form. A fifer on his debut Test on the lines of Zimbabwe’s John Traicos in 1992 and Bangladesh’s Nairmur Rahman in 2000 and Khan could be a superstar overnight.

<h3>3. KL Rahul (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_85660" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85660" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-85660" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="600" height="466" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85660" class="wp-caption-text">Lokesh Rahul of India. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
After a dream IPL, KL Rahul will be back to his home ground to take on Afghanistan and given the kind of form he is in, one wouldn’t be surprised if he batters all batters’ record in Test in this game. Rahul, who hit a ton against Australia in Sydney in just his third innings in 2014, has evolved as a solid opening batsman for India though he hasn’t scored a hundred in Tests since his magnificent 199 against England in Chennai in December 2016. He had a forgettable Test series in South Africa earlier this year and he will know very well that this Afghanistan Test could be his chance to keep a place in the playing XI intact ahead of the demanding England series.
His last Test outing in Bengaluru produced half centuries in both innings (90 &amp; 51) against Australia in March 2017 and the team management will expect a massive display from him in the one-off Test.

<h3>4. Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_228756" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-228756" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-228756" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Shahzad.jpg" alt="Mohammad Shahzad" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-228756" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
The burly 30-year-old wicket-keeper of the visiting side is known for his batting prowess and he will be one of the key members of the Afghanistan side in this historic Test. Shahzad even has an unbeaten double century in first-class cricket and he is Afghanistan’s highest scorer in T20Is and second-highest scorer in ODIs.
Shahzad is a character who adds more colour to the game, thanks to his batting brilliance and no holding-back attitude when emotions run high. Shahzad could be one of Stanikzai’s main trump cards in the upcoming game versus India.

<h3>5. Karun Nair (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_99478" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-99478" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-99478" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Karun-Nair-2.jpg" alt="Karun Nair" width="600" height="414" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99478" class="wp-caption-text">Karun Nair. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Only the second Indian to score a triple ton in Tests, Karun Nair has surprisingly not been a regular name yet in India’s cricketing circuits, unlike the other triple centurion Virender Sehwag. Having made his debut in November 2016, Nair has played only six Tests and seven innings so far, scoring 374 runs which means his other 71 runs came in six innings (average 11.83).
Nair needed a chance to show that he is not a one-innings wonder and his opportunity might come against Afghanistan in the absence of the Virat Kohlis and Rohit Sharmas. The 26-year-old Rajasthan batsman was already playing the mind game with the Afghans, responding to the visiting skipper Stanikzai’s quip that his spinners were better than India.
Afghan spinners were yet to prove their mettle in the longest format was Nair’s reply. The right-handed batsman who gave his Mustang the number 303 is now looking to conquer newer peaks and not remain stuck in the past. The Bengaluru Test could be his chance to seal his berth in the side.

India will play their 522nd Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting June 14 and their opponents on this occasion are Afghanistan, who will be making their debut in the longest format of the game. This will be the fourth time that India will be play the opponents to a debutant Test side after Pakistan in 1952; Zimbabwe in 1992 and Bangladesh in 2000. While India won the game versus Pakistan by an innings and 70 runs and Bangladesh by 9 wickets, they managed to draw with Zimbabwe after surviving a scare.
Now, it’s time for the spin-heavy Afghanistan side to test India in their inaugural five-day game.
Afghanistan, however, have caught a lot of attention ahead of the game with India since some of their players have already made a name for themselves in international cricket – in the one-day international and Twenty20 formats. It is to be seen now whether they can replicate their performances in the limited overs format in the longest one.
India will be led by Ajinkya Rahane, who was picked as the captain after the regular skipper Virat Kohli opted out while the visitors will play under the leadership of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/afghanistan-cricketers-skip-media-meet-and-greet-choose-to-focus-on-test-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asghar Stanikzai</a>.
There are a few names from both the competing sides to look forward to during this game, depending on their recent performances and reputation. Here we pick five such players who could make a real difference in their respective team’s pursuit for a win:
<h3>1. Ishant Sharma (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_215502" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-215502" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-215502" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ishant-Sharma-1.jpg" alt="Ishant Sharma" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-215502" class="wp-caption-text">Ishant Sharma of India celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 29-year-old lanky pacer though had an injury scare during his county stint with Sussex, Ishant Sharma has been in a good touch which makes him a key member in the hosts’ bowling line-up against Afghanistan. After getting ignored for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sharma made an impressive county debut claiming five wickets in his first game and has continued  to do well. This preparation of Sharma, who has 234 wickets in 80 Tests, is much likely make him effective in the upcoming England series but the Afghanistan batsmen will also have to take an extra bit of care while playing Sharma.
The Delhi bowler took eight wickets in the two Tests he played last, against South Africa, but could be a completely different customer after his county stint. He will also know that the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah who were not picked for the Afghanistan game will make the competition tough and hence make the most of the opportunity that he has.

<h3>2. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_260038" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-260038" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-260038" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Rashid.jpg" alt="Rashid Khan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-260038" class="wp-caption-text">Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Not many 19-year-olds have caught so much attraction as has Rashid Khan before his debut Test. Having already made the record as the fastest bowler to grab 100 ODI wickets and the second joint-fastest to get 50 wickets in the T20Is, the googly bowler now has the final frontier to conquer: Test which is played with the red ball.
For Afghanistan, Khan is almost an equivalent of Sachin Tendulkar in his late teens, as his side looks up to him to deliver whenever it is required. The man has a great opportunity to deliver in his debut Test against a batting line-up which doesn’t have Virat Kohli and features some names that aren’t in their best of form. A fifer on his debut Test on the lines of Zimbabwe’s John Traicos in 1992 and Bangladesh’s Nairmur Rahman in 2000 and Khan could be a superstar overnight.

<h3>3. KL Rahul (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_85660" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85660" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-85660" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="600" height="466" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85660" class="wp-caption-text">Lokesh Rahul of India. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
After a dream IPL, KL Rahul will be back to his home ground to take on Afghanistan and given the kind of form he is in, one wouldn’t be surprised if he batters all batters’ record in Test in this game. Rahul, who hit a ton against Australia in Sydney in just his third innings in 2014, has evolved as a solid opening batsman for India though he hasn’t scored a hundred in Tests since his magnificent 199 against England in Chennai in December 2016. He had a forgettable Test series in South Africa earlier this year and he will know very well that this Afghanistan Test could be his chance to keep a place in the playing XI intact ahead of the demanding England series.
His last Test outing in Bengaluru produced half centuries in both innings (90 &amp; 51) against Australia in March 2017 and the team management will expect a massive display from him in the one-off Test.

<h3>4. Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_228756" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-228756" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-228756" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Mohammad-Shahzad.jpg" alt="Mohammad Shahzad" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-228756" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
The burly 30-year-old wicket-keeper of the visiting side is known for his batting prowess and he will be one of the key members of the Afghanistan side in this historic Test. Shahzad even has an unbeaten double century in first-class cricket and he is Afghanistan’s highest scorer in T20Is and second-highest scorer in ODIs.
Shahzad is a character who adds more colour to the game, thanks to his batting brilliance and no holding-back attitude when emotions run high. Shahzad could be one of Stanikzai’s main trump cards in the upcoming game versus India.

<h3>5. Karun Nair (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_99478" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-99478" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-99478" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Karun-Nair-2.jpg" alt="Karun Nair" width="600" height="414" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99478" class="wp-caption-text">Karun Nair. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Only the second Indian to score a triple ton in Tests, Karun Nair has surprisingly not been a regular name yet in India’s cricketing circuits, unlike the other triple centurion Virender Sehwag. Having made his debut in November 2016, Nair has played only six Tests and seven innings so far, scoring 374 runs which means his other 71 runs came in six innings (average 11.83).
Nair needed a chance to show that he is not a one-innings wonder and his opportunity might come against Afghanistan in the absence of the Virat Kohlis and Rohit Sharmas. The 26-year-old Rajasthan batsman was already playing the mind game with the Afghans, responding to the visiting skipper Stanikzai’s quip that his spinners were better than India.
Afghan spinners were yet to prove their mettle in the longest format was Nair’s reply. The right-handed batsman who gave his Mustang the number 303 is now looking to conquer newer peaks and not remain stuck in the past. The Bengaluru Test could be his chance to seal his berth in the side.

These five players will have a microscope on them to see how they perform in the upcoming encounter.

India vs Afghanistan Test: These 5 players will be interesting to watch

India will play their 522nd Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting June 14 and their opponents on this occasion are Afghanistan, who will be...