Mohammad Kaif discusses potential change in India's squad composition: Vaibha could replace Dubey or Tilak

Following the conclusion of the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan, the India team's schedule will continue in 2026. According to the current BCCI schedule, after the matches with Afghanistan, the Indian team will play games against Japan, then participate in the Asian Games, and subsequently play against the West Indies, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.

The Indian team achieved a clean triumph in the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan, with all three encounters held at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The next target for the Indian squad is Japan, where a historic T20 International match is scheduled for September 22.

The match between India and Japan will be the first in the history of men's international cricket and will take place at the Sano International Cricket Stadium in Japan. This match will be held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

Subsequently, the Indian team will participate in the 2026 Asian Games. The men's cricket discipline will be held in Japan from September 24 to October 3, and India has automatically qualified for the quarterfinals. The team's first match is scheduled for September 28.

During the Asian Games, India's domestic international season will begin. The team will play in a three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting on September 27. This will be followed by five T20 Internationals, which will take place from October 6 to October 17.

Immediately after the series with the West Indies, the Indian team will embark on a tour to New Zealand, which is scheduled approximately four years later. Five T20 matches and five ODI Internationals are planned there in October-November. Additionally, two Test matches will be played between the two countries. This series is of great importance for India's campaign in the Test Cricket World Cup.

At the end of the year, India will play a series of matches against Sri Lanka, including three ODIs and three T20 Internationals. Thus, the India team's schedule remains very busy into December.

According to the schedule, there are only 28 matches ahead. These matches include: a game against Japan (T20 on September 22), the first match at the Asian Games (September 28), the series against the West Indies (3 ODIs + 5 T20s), the tour to New Zealand (2 Tests + 5 T20s + 5 ODIs), and the series against Sri Lanka (3 ODIs + 3 T20s).

Details of the West Indies visit to India (September-October 2026): the first ODI is scheduled for September 27, 2026, in Tiruvannamalai, the second ODI is on September 30, 2026, in Guwahati, and the third ODI is on October 3, 2026, in Chandigarh. The T20 series will start on October 6, 2026, in Lucknow, with subsequent matches on October 9 in Ranchi, October 11 in Indore, October 14 in Hyderabad, and October 17 in Bangalore.

Schedule of India's tour to New Zealand (October-December 2026): the first two T20s are scheduled for October 22 and 24 in Christchurch, the third T20 is on October 27 in Wellington, the fourth T20 is on October 30 in Auckland, and the fifth T20 is on November 1 in Hamilton. The ODI series will take place on November 4, 2026, at Eden Park, Auckland, November 7 in Wellington, November 10 at Seddon Park, Hamilton, November 13 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, and November 15 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. The Test matches will be held from November 19–23 in Wellington and November 27–December 1 in Christchurch.

India's visit to Sri Lanka (December 2026): three ODIs are scheduled for December 13, 2026, in Delhi, December 16 in Bangalore, and December 19 in Ahmedabad. The T20 series will take place on December 22, 2026, in Rajkot, December 24 in Katak, and December 27 in Pune.

Rumors are actively circulating in the market regarding the current chief selector of the Indian team, Ajit Agarkar. If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not agree to extend Agarkar's contract, former Indian batsman and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel could be appointed as the chief selector.

According to TOI, Parthiv's name has been among potential candidates for this position within the BCCI for about six months. Although the possibility of extending Ajit Agarkar's tenure is not entirely ruled out, insiders connected with Indian cricket report serious discussions about Parthiv's name.

The BCCI has not made any official statements on this matter, and it is expected that the situation will become clearer in the coming weeks. Recently, Ajit Agarkar was responsible for selecting teams for ODI and T20 series against West Indies, as well as for the Rest of India team in the Iran Cup.

The discussion surrounding Ajit Agarkar intensified when he did not participate in an important review meeting of Indian cricket. High-ranking BCCI officials, head coach Gautam Gurmir, Test and ODI captains Shubman Gill, and T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, along with Vice President of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) VVS Laxman, were present at this meeting.

BCCI Secretary Devdutt Sayia explained Agarkar's absence by stating he was out of town. However, one source familiar with the events questioned this explanation, noting that almost all key figures in Indian cricket were present at the meeting, making the chief selector's absence unusual.

41-year-old Parthiv Patel played 25 matches in Tests, 38 in ODIs, and 2 in T20 Internationals for India. If appointed as chairman of the selection committee, he would be the most experienced member of the current squad in terms of Test matches. Other players who have played Tests include Shivsundar Das (23), Pragyan Ojha (24), RP Singh (14), and Ajay Ratra (6).

After retiring, Patel has remained connected to cricket. He currently serves as an assistant and bowling coach for the Gujarat Titans (GT) team, and also comments on matches when available. Reports suggest that Parthiv Patel was supposed to take on greater responsibility in the Gujarat Titans next season; however, if the BCCI appoints him as chairman of the selection committee, the franchise would have to change its coaching staff. While the final decision on Ajit Agarkar's fate has not been made, Parthiv's name is confidently put forward as a possible alternative.

India has taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. The third and final match is scheduled for September 17 (Thursday) at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Following the securing of victory in the series, the probability of changes in the Indian team's squad increases.

15-year-old Vaivava Suryavanshi was not in India's starting lineup in the first two T20 matches. In the first match, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma batted at the top order, and the Indian team retained the same starting six in the second match.

After the game, Shreyas Iyer stated that the team aims to give all players an opportunity to adapt to the field and conditions, as well as gain experience from practice matches. Therefore, there is a possibility of giving a chance to players who have been outside the squad so far, and some changes in the team combination may also occur.

Thus, the path is open for 'Baby Boss' to get a chance to play in the third T20 match. Previously, Vaivava demonstrated excellent performance in the T20 series against Zimbabwe, winning the 'Player of the Series' title with 151 runs. Despite this, he had to remain on the bench in the first two matches against Afghanistan.

Now all attention is focused on the match on September 17. If the team management decides to make changes, Vaivava may get his first chance to play an international T20 match in India.

Currently, Vaivava has scored 193 runs in 6 matches for India, with an average strike rate of 189.21, including two half-centuries. In these six games, Vaivava hit 16 fours and 14 sixes.