4 players who could be considered in Indian squad for Test against Afghanistan

Team India's immediate assignment after the Indian Premier League will be against Afghanistan in a one-off Test at Bengaluru. The Test will commence from 14th June 2018 and there has been speculation that many Test specialists will not be a part of the historic match.

Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma will be busy with their county commitments which will be perfect practice for them for the upcoming 5 Test series against England, starting 1st August 2018.

With India A all set to tour England in June 2018, it will be a perfect opportunity for BCCI to send Test specialists to England for India A tour to get acclimatized to the English conditions.

Thus the one-off Test against Afghanistan might see some new faces in the Indian Test squad while some out-of-favour players might make a comeback to the team.

Here is a look at 4 cricketers who might be considered by the selectors if the Test specialists are sent to England early for the India A tour:

#4. Mayank Agarwal

Mayank scored 1160 runs at an average of 105.45 in 13 innings in the 2017-2018 season

Mayank Agarwal was in prolific form in domestic cricket last season. The 27-year-old opener from Karnataka topped the charts in Ranji cricket where he scored 1160 runs in 13 innings at a staggering average of 105.45 with 5 centuries, 2 half-centuries and a highest score of 304 not out.

Mayank continued his form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy too and topped the scoring charts with 723 runs in 8 matches.

Mayank scored 2141 runs across all formats last season which is the highest ever total by any Indian batsman in domestic cricket.

It will be a perfect opportunity for India to hand him his debut at Bengaluru, his home ground.

#3 Karun Nair

Karun Nair is one of two Indians to have scored a triple century in Test cricket

With captain Kohli all set to miss the Bengaluru Test, it will be the perfect opportunity for Karun Nair to bat at number 4 against Afghanistan.

The story of Nair is a curious one. From becoming India's second triple centurion in Test cricket to getting dropped from the Indian team in the very next Test, Karun has seen it all.

The 2017-2018 season has been a decent one for the youngster. He has scored 612 runs in 11 innings at an average of 68 with 3 centuries and 1 half century.

Nair still averages 62.33 after playing 7 Test innings and should definitely be given another opportunity to play for India in the middle order. The Test against Afghanistan will be the perfect platform for Karun to make a comeback to the team and make his case for a position in the Indian middle order for the upcoming 5 Test series against England.

#2 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer will look to replicate his success at the domestic level at the international level too

Another youngster who has been knocking on the doors of the selectors is 23-year-old Shreyas Iyer from Mumbai.

While Iyer was a part of the Indian ODI and T20I squads last season, he is yet to make his debut at the elite level. The right-handed middle-order batsman has tasted success in ODI cricket where he averages 42 in 6 innings with 2 half centuries.

Iyer has been prolific in domestic cricket. The 2015-2016 Ranji season saw the rise of the youngster from Mumbai, as he scored 1321 runs in 18 innings at an average of 73.38, with 4 centuries and 7 half centuries. He even had a double century to his credit that season. The 2015-2016 Ranji season was followed by another high scoring campaign as he scored 725 runs at an average of 42.64.

If the Test regulars are not a part of the squad, Iyer should be considered for the middle order. He has got the temperament to play a big innings in Test cricket and succeed at the international level.

#1 Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal, who has tasted success in limited overs cricket, will look to replicate his performance at the Test level too

Chahal, unlike other cricketers, does not have a very successful record at the domestic level and in 42 First Class innings, the 27-year-old leg-spinner has picked up just 70 wickets at an average of 33.90.

However, considering his success at the ODI and T20 levels, the time is not that far off before Chahal is handed his debut Test cap. The leggie has picked up 43 wickets in ODIs at an average of 21.83 and 35 T20 international wickets at an average of 18.45.

Leg-spinners are of vital importance in any form of cricket and considering the success of Chahal in the shorter formats, the selectors might consider giving him his debut against Afghanistan in Bengaluru.

Ashwin and Jadeja, the regular spinners of the Indian Test team, have struggled to pick up wickets in Tests outside the subcontinent and the management will be tempted to draft Chahal into the squad for the Test series against England as a backup spinner.