3 bowlers who can pick most wickets in IND vs AFG ODI series ft. Arshdeep Singh
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Many star players will play in the IND vs AFG ODI series.
Shubman Gill and Co. will be in action from June 13 for a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. The matches will be played in Dharamshala, Lucknow and Chennai on 13th, 17th and 20th June, respectively.
As Gill is set to lead the team, Shreyas Iyer will be his deputy. Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav and Vijay Hazare Trophy-winning captain Harsh Dubey have earned their maiden ODI call-ups ahead of this series. Ishan Kishan, who last played an ODI in 2023, has been named in the 15-member squad.
India‘s key batsman Virat Kohli will miss the series due to a hamstring injury, and Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced him in the squad. Pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya will also miss the series due to a quadriceps injury.
Some star players are not part of the series, including Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel. While Bumrah and Siraj could be rested ahead of the upcoming busy schedule, Jadeja is recovering from an injury sustained during IPL 2026.
On the other hand, Afghanistan will take the field with their fairly experienced squad comprising Hasmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem, among others.
On that note, let’s take a look at the top 3 bowlers who can pick the most wickets in this series.
Bowlers who can pick the most wickets in IND vs AFG ODI series
3. Mohammad Saleem
The Afghan bowler who shone in the recent IND vs AFG one-off Test in New Chandigarh will remain the centre of attention in the ODI matches as well. Mohammad Saleem picked 6 wickets in the one-off Test against India, dismissing key batsmen.
He bowled the most overs from Afghanistan’s line-up and consistently touched 140. While most wickets picked by India were by the spinners, Saleem was the only pacer to pick 6 wickets and was the second-highest wicket-taker in the match.
For his extraordinary performance in this Test, Saleem, who was originally not a part of the squad, has been added to the ODI squad ahead of the series opener. With the first match being played at Dharamshala, that pitch often has more to offer to the pacers, and should suit Saleem.
2. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is the only Indian bowler featured in the top 10 of the ICC Men’s ODI bowling rankings, holding the 7th position. He has played 120 ODI matches for India and taken 194 wickets, with a staggering economy of 5.
Kuldeep picked nine wickets in 3 matches against South Africa, while three against New Zealand. In the recent one-off Test against Afghanistan, he picked three wickets in the second innings.
Two matches of this series will be played in Lucknow and Chennai, where the pitches favour spinners; therefore, Kuldeep will be a key player for India. Moreover, in Jadeja’s absence, the chinaman will lead the spin attack.
1. Arshdeep Singh
In the absence of Bumrah and Siraj, India’s left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh will play a key role in the pace attack. In his 15 ODIs, he has picked 25 wickets, with an economy of 5.3 and an average of 24.
In the last ODI that he played, against New Zealand, he picked a 3-wicket haul. His series against South Africa too was rewarding, with 5 wickets in three matches. His early wicket-taking ability in the powerplay will be vital for India.
India are looking at Arshdeep as the second pacer going in the ICC CWC 2027 alongside Jasprit Bumrah, because of him being the leading left-arm pacer in the country.
When will the IND vs AFG ODI series start?
IND vs AFG ODI series will start on June 13, with the first match being played at Dharamshala.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.