Harsh Dubey's call-up to India Test squad after Ranji record in 2025

Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey received a surprise call for India's Test squad against Afghanistan in 2026 after a record-breaking Ranji Trophy season.

Surprise call-up moment As the Sunrisers Hyderabad team prepared for travel, left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey received an unexpected call while seated in the airport lounge. The caller asked how it felt to be selected for the Indian team, which Dubey initially assumed referred to the India A squad touring Sri Lanka for a tri-series. He responded that it felt great and would bring him closer to his biggest dream. Only after a message from a senior journalist did he realize the call was about the senior national side. ## Shock and disbelief moments Dubey refused to believe the news until he saw it officially on the Board of Control for Cricket in India website. His phone immediately flooded with calls and messages, prompting him to search for the live press conference online. When his name was announced, he felt numb for the first few minutes, unable to process what had happened. His teammates and family were initially unaware until delays in the flight allowed time for confirmation. ## Family's emotional reaction Ishan Kishan, sitting beside Dubey during the journey, had no idea about the selection. Dubey's father also mistakenly believed it was an India A call-up at first, but upon confirming the news, he video-called his son in tears. His mother repeatedly asked if his name had definitely been announced, reflecting the family's overwhelming emotions and pride. ## Ranji Trophy breakthrough Dubey emerged as a key figure in Vidarbha's victorious 2024-25 Ranji Trophy campaign, finishing with a record 69 wickets and contributing 469 runs. This performance followed a significant setback just a few years earlier when he was dropped from the state side entirely. The disappointment from that exclusion pushed him to train under one of India's greatest offspinners. ## Mentorship from Ashwin After missing out on the Ranji squad, Dubey played in an Under-23 tournament and took seven wickets in the semi-final. During an IPL season, Rajneesh Gurbani mentioned Dubey's name to R Ashwin during a casual chess game. Intrigued, Ashwin watched videos of Dubey's bowling and invited him to play league cricket in Chennai. Dubey joined Mylapore Recreation Club, where Ashwin guided him to refine his bowling and pace variations. ## Vidarbha's Vijay Hazare glory In 2025, Dubey captained Vidarbha to their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy title, further solidifying his credentials for higher-level opportunities. His domestic performances consistently drew attention, with many drawing parallels to Ravindra Jadeja due to his bowling style and fielding skills. Dubey has often cited Jadeja as an inspiration since his early years in cricket. ## Learning from Jadeja Dubey met Jadeja during the IPL and earlier in England while representing India A. They spent nearly half an hour discussing mindset and areas for improvement. When asked about comparisons to Jadeja, Dubey acknowledged the difficulty of replacing such a player but emphasized focusing on contributing to the team's success. He viewed the comparisons as validation of his progress. ## Selector's praise and focus Chief selector Ajit Agarkar described Dubey as an all-format next-generation spin bowling allrounder. Dubey accepted the praise gratefully but insisted his priority was earning the team's trust through performances. He dismissed overanalyzing external expectations, choosing instead to concentrate on controlling what he could and executing his role effectively. ## Excited for Gambhir's guidance Dubey expressed excitement about joining the Indian dressing room under head coach Gautam Gambhir, calling the opportunity special. He cited Gambhir's iconic 2011 World Cup final innings as a reason for his immense respect. The chance to learn and work alongside Gambhir was something Dubey looked forward to immensely. ## ODI debut alongside legends The upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan will place Dubey in the same dressing room as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He recalled that Kohli was his second IPL wicket after Mitchell Marsh, making the thought of playing alongside him feel surreal. Growing up admiring Kohli, Dubey described the experience as a dream come true, though he admitted the reality still hadn't fully sunk in. ## Journey of perseverance From the grounds of Nagpur to the Indian dressing room, Dubey's rise has been defined by perseverance, sacrifice, and unshakable belief. His father, a former Central Industrial Security Force employee, even gave up his job to support Dubey's cricketing ambitions. Now, with the Indian squad assembled in Chandigarh ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Dubey stands ready for his long-awaited international debut.