Afghan star all-rounder Rashid Khan There are hints that he may skip the one-off Test against India scheduled to be played in Mullanpur in June 2026 as he continues to manage his workload after back surgery.The 27-year-old, who underwent lower back surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup, revealed that doctors advised him to stay away from red-ball cricket. While the opportunity to play Test matches in India is attractive, Rashid made it clear that his long-term fitness and ability to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup remain his priority.Physician advice and workload managementRashid admitted that playing Test cricket posed a significant risk to his recovery.“It’s a very tough question. The first thing the doctors told me was to stay away from red-ball cricket,” he said after Gujarat Titans’ win over Delhi Capitals. intense pulsed light 2026.Despite medical advice, Rashid played in last year’s Test match against Zimbabwe, taking 11 wickets off 54 balls, underlining his importance to Afghanistan and the physical demands of the tournament.Focus on white ball cricketThe leg-spinner stressed that he would prefer to continue with the white-ball format, especially ODIs. “I love ODIs and I am in good physical condition to play these matches for long periods of time. But if I want a long career, I need to manage my workload carefully,” he added.With Afghanistan having a limited Test schedule, having played just 12 matches since gaining Test status in 2017, Rashid suggested that it would make more sense to prioritize long spells rather than sporadic appearances in the longest format.Rashid remained cautious and non-committal when asked about the upcoming Tests against India. “I will relax and focus on preparing for the World Cup. If I have back problems during that test, it could affect my career,” he said.India vs Afghanistan test detailsIndia will host Afghanistan in a one-off Test from June 6 to 10, 2026, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh. The match will kick off Afghanistan’s multi-format tour against India but is not part of the 2025-27 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.
