India’s September schedule is crowded enough that selection depth may matter almost as much as results. The senior men’s team face Afghanistan in three T20Is in Delhi from September 13 to 17, followed by a historic T20I in Japan on September 22, while the Asian Games cricket programme is also scheduled during the second half of September.
At the same time, India A men begin a multi-day series against Australia A on September 22 and India A Women start a seven-match home programme against Australia A Women on September 12.
The India A programme gives selectors a parallel evaluation track. Players such as Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan and Ruturaj Gaikwad will have leadership or senior roles against Australia A, while Hardik Pandya was named in the one-day group subject to fitness clearance.
On the women’s side, the Australia A series creates competitive opportunities immediately around a period in which the senior team is involved in the Asia Cup and preparing for the Asian Games.
India have already had to make one late change, with Yash Thakur replacing the injured Harshit Rana for the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games. Jasprit Bumrah was also initially named subject to fitness clearance.