New Delhi: The Indian men’s senior selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, will meet on May 19 to select the squad for the one-off Test and ODI matches against Afghanistan, while also discussing the blueprint for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The Shubman Gill-led squad for the three ODIs starting June 14 is expected to discuss key issues on fitness, form and the pool of players identified for the multinational event.Discussions about the future of Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma These are also on the agenda, as the team management wants to end all speculations starting with the Afghanistan series. The selectors have already made it clear that there will be no compromise on fitness standards, with the strict measures set to continue. In addition to fitness, compatibility is expected to be a key consideration. This is where serious discussions can take place. Ravindra JadejaAlthough he has the support of the men who matter, the all-rounder will need to punch above his weight to stay in contention for the World Cup.Kohli is a giant of the format, and his recent outing has ensured that there are no second thoughts about his position.This leaves Rohit on the stickiest wicket among the three legends. The former captain has struggled with his hamstring, hasn’t set the white-ball stage on fire in recent months and could count his days with the Indian team if he isn’t done already.
Rohit Sharma (Getty Images)
Apart from the three strong players, the selectors are also expected to seek clarity on Hardik Pandya’s bowling workload in the 50-over format. While the all-rounder has bowled regularly in the IPL, he last played an ODI in March 2025.The management wants to give Nitish Kumar Reddy game time to keep him in contention as well. Given his improved bowling performance in the IPL, the 22-year-old could also be part of the Ireland and England tour plans.May 19 could turn out to be an important day for Indian cricket, with not only selections for the Afghanistan series but also World Cup-related calls to focus on. From here, each game will have a chance to finalize the ideal combination, and the selectors don’t seem to be in a free-for-all mood. The message is loud and clear – no need to look back now.
