India, June 4 -- The IPL 2026 season is now behind them, and India's focus shifts back to the longest format as they prepare for a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mohali. While India will start as favourites, the match comes at an important time for a side looking to regain consistency in red-ball cricket after a challenging period. Questions were raised after India suffered a home Test series defeat to South Africa, with both team selection and tactical decisions coming under scrutiny. Despite the setback, Shubman Gill's leadership remained one of the positives to emerge from the season. The young captain endured a frustrating series personally, retiring hurt in the opening Test and missing the second match through injury, limiting h...