<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-aakash-chopra-explains-why-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-india-debut-can-be-delayed-23632630" rel="nofollow">Team India</a> is all set to take on Afghanistan for a one-off Test match and a three-match ODI series. The series will kick off from June 6.
Ahead of the series, spinner Harsh Dubey has earned a maiden call-up for the national team. The spinner stated that he would like to create his own identity rather than being called a replacement player.
"This opportunity has helped me grow a lot as a player. I am not looking to replace anyone. I worked hard for this opportunity and my hard work is the reason why I am here today. Instead of thinking too much about the future, my focus is entirely on giving my best on any given day," he said.
He then said that he doesn't want to pressurize himself and just wants to back his abilities.
"Right now, I am treating this international match just like any normal game. I don't want to put too much pressure on myself; I just want to back my abilities and keep doing what has always worked for me," added Dubey.
The 23-year-old cricketer was a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) squad in the ongoing edition of the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-reminds-me-of-matthew-hayden-ab-de-villiers-23632596" rel="nofollow">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL).
Recently, the Sunrisers suffered a defeat by 47 runs against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. Following the loss, the Pat Cummins-led SRH exited from the tournament.
<h2>IPL 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Match Summary</h2>
With an aim of chasing the target of 244 runs, the Sunrisers were bowled out for 196 runs in 19.2 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan scored 33 runs in 11 balls, including three boundaries and the same number of maximums. <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-its-the-match-winning-performance-i-was-waiting-for-a-long-time-says-nitish-kumar-reddy-23623909" rel="nofollow">Nitish Kumar Reddy</a> also registered 38 runs off 20 balls, with the help of three boundaries and two maximums.
Impact Player Salil Arora accumulated 35 runs in his knock of 21 balls. He also smashed two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Facing 24 balls, Shivang Kumar also scored 27 runs, which included three boundaries.
Rajasthan's Jofra Archer returned with the figures of three wickets for 58 runs in four overs. Nandre Burger, Ravindra Jadeja, and Impact Player Sushant Mishra bagged two wickets each. Yash Punja also claimed one wicket. Brijesh Sharma went wicketless in the IPL 2026 match against Hyderabad.
Having been put to bat first, RR's opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 29 runs in 29 balls, including four boundaries. Fellow opening batsman <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-departs-on-97-runs-rr-reach-136-runs-in-10-overs-against-srh-23632485" rel="nofollow">Vaibhav Sooryavanshi</a> garnered 97 runs off just 29 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and 12 maximums
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel smashed 50 runs in 21 balls, with the help of five boundaries and three maximums
Later, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-rajasthan-royals-skipper-riyan-parag-form-in-focus-against-struggling-lsg-23626894" rel="nofollow">captain Riyan Parag</a> departed after scoring 26 runs in 12 balls, which included two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Dasun Shanaka was also dismissed on five runs in three balls, including a boundary. Donovan Ferreira registered 12 runs in nine balls, including a boundary. Facing five balls, Jofra Archer accumulated four runs, which included a boundary and Nandre Burger was dismissed for one run in one ball. Ravindra Jadeja and Impact Player Sushant Mishra stayed unbeaten. Facing nine balls, Jadeja registered 12 runs, including a boundary, whereas Mishra scored one run in three balls. With this, the Royals posted a total of 243 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs against the "Orange Army".
Hyderabad's Praful Hinge returned with the figures of three wickets for 54 runs in four overs. Eshan Malinga, Shivang Kumar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with one wicket each. Skipper Pat Cummins and Sakib Hussain went wicketless in the IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan.
(With PTI Inputs)

Ahead of the series, spinner Harsh Dubey has earned a maiden call-up for the national team. The spinner stated that he would like to create his own identity

'I worked hard for this opportunity...': Spinner Harsh Dubey on his maiden India call-up ahead of series against Afghanistan

Vaibhav should bleed blue soon: Sooryavanshi's coach

Ahead of the series, spinner Harsh Dubey has earned a maiden call-up for the national team. The spinner stated that he would like to create his own identity rather than being called a replacement player

Spinner Harsh Dubey speaks about his maiden India call-up ahead of series against Afghanistan

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Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / Spinner Harsh Dubey speaks about his maiden India call-up ahead of series against Afghanistan