DRS June 3: Hardik Pandya fitness update, AFG vs IND once again later in 2026, new spin coach joins India

With IPL 2026 done and dusted, the focus is now back on international cricket, with the Indian cricket team set to take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test from June 6. The first batch of the Indian cricketers have already arrived in New Chandigarh to start preparing for the contest. The support staff has also received a boost as Sairaj Bahutale has joined Gautam Gambhir and co. as the new spin coach. Meanwhile, six net bowlers – including Auqib Nabi – have been picked to help India prepare for the Test against AFG. On that note, let’s take a look at the top headlines from Tuesday.

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Team India arrives in Mullanpur

Team India’s first contingent has arrived in Mullanpur for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season ended on May 31, players like Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Gurnoor Brar, and Mohammed Siraj couldn’t arrive early in New Chandigarh. Read more here.

Hardik Pandya fitness update

Hardik Pandya will report at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) on June 2. The all-rounder had been dealing with a back injury while playing for MI in IPL 2026. The 32-year-old will spend a week in Bengaluru, undergoing fitness drills and match simulations. If the medical team feels he’s fit for international cricket, Pandya will be granted a fitness clearance to play in the India vs Afghanistan ODIs. Read more here.

New spin coach joins India

Sairaj Bahutule will assume the role of India’s spin bowling coach from the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test onwards. The former leg-spinner had been working with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, after parting ways with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) last year. Last month, it was reported that India head coach Gautam Gambhir had personally requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to hire Bahutule as India’s spin bowling coach. Read more here.

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Maharaja Trophy 2026 schedule & auction

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has revealed the auction date and schedule of the 2026 edition of the Maharaja Trophy T20. Previously, KSCA had confirmed Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadeyar Cricket Stadium in Mysuru and KSCA Stadium in Hubballi as the two venues, but the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will also host matches now. The last 10 matches, including the playoffs, will be played in Bengaluru, Read more here.

Nabi finally added to India team

Auqib Nabi has been added by the BCCI as a net bowler in the Test team ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan. While initial reports suggested that he was added as a backup player, new development divulges that Nabi is part of the seven-man bowling group that has been involved as net bowlers. But due to this, the 29-year-old can gain first-hand experience of international cricket. Despite picking 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer wasn’t picked in the main squad, for which Ajit Agarkar and co. faced severe backlash.

India vs Afghanistan again later this year

A fascinating bilateral series may present itself, as the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host three T20 internationals. Never in history has Afghanistan hosted India. However, due to the geopolitical issues in their own country, ACB plans to host those games in India, namely in New Delhi itself. While India’s first series after the IPL 2026 is against Afghanistan, the Afghans have never hosted India before. That is set to change in September, if any unusual circumstances don’t arise. Read more here.

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