Practice started on Wednesday in New Chandigarh, marking the first step for India's squad led by skipper Shubman Gill ahead of the single Test against Afghanistan. Now that the 2026 IPL season is behind them, focus turns again to global play. The five-day match looms into view, set to open its doors on June 6. Training kicked off with quiet intensity, players stretching under morning light while plans took shape behind net sessions and bowling drills. Even though this game falls outside the current World Test Championship run, India picked a powerful team. Missing is fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah; he's sitting out this one. Team management decided rest was needed. India hit the nets ahead of the Afghanistan challenge Back to Test Cricket 🤍🎥 #TeamIndia hits the nets as the red ball grind gets underway ahead of the #INDvAFG Test 🏏@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/bD3z1osQcB — BCCI (@BCCI) June 3, 2026 Early light caught the team at work, clips spreading through BCCI’s online posts showing familiar faces deep into drills. Not far from the boundary, KL Rahul stood facing throwdowns, hours ticking by under his bat. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal worked nearby, blade meeting ball again and again. Over near the stumps, Rishabh Pant moved between shots, gloves on, testing angles, and practice hummed along without pause. Also read: Rashid Khan rested as Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai return in Afghanistan squads for India Tour Reports say Shubman Gill, captain of the Gujarat Titans, arrived in New Chandigarh right after guiding his team to the IPL 2026 final, where they came second behind the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The training session saw fielding coach T Dilip on site too. Training saw head coach Gautam Gambhir right in the thick of things, talking closely with players while they worked through net sessions. Instead of holding back, fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna pushed hard, delivering sharp spells under close watch. With India tightening their practice routines, every session carried weight. Focus stayed high as plans took clearer shape ahead of match time. One thing is unclear: whether Siraj will play the Test. Word before hinted that the decision might come by tomorrow morning. Each game he appeared in for the Gujarat Titans through IPL stretched his limits. Recovery time now may shape what happens next. If Siraj can’t play, then Auqib Nabi might take his spot - he took 60 wickets last Ranji Trophy season, yet missed out on the Test team. Right now, he bowls in practice sessions alongside others like Gurjapneet Singh, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari, and Shivang Kumar, who are also around camp just in case. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav is back in training, this time helping out as a practice bowler. Though he hasn’t played since IPL 2026 due to recurring injuries, his presence adds pace options during sessions. Batsmen are getting used to sharp deliveries ahead of facing Afghanistan’s attack in Mullanpur. India squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan: Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper) Also read: Cricket news in India