India and Afghanistan are set to go at it in a three-match ODI series that starts on June 13. the games will be staged in Dharamshala , Lucknow and Chennai , as both sides roll into a pretty important preparation chunk for upcoming global events

For India, Shubman Gill will take charge, Shreyas Iyer will be the vice-captain or well, that second-in-command sort of role. A bunch of senior names are missing due to injuries or workload handling. Virat Kohli is ruled out with a hamstring issue, and Hardik Pandya is not available because of a quadriceps problem

India are also without Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. That means younger players and the fringe cricketers get a real opening, to show their worth, and not just in training, but properly in ODI match situations

Afghanistan meanwhile have landed with a more experienced look to the squad. Rashid Khan is there, Mohammad Nabi too, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai and captain Hasmatullah Shahidi all make the trip

With the playing conditions expected to suit both pacers and spinners across the series, there’s a chance some bowlers really take over. so here are three bowlers who could end up as the leading wicket-takers by the end of it.

Afghanistan fast bowler Mohammad Saleem comes into this ODI series with a good head of steam, after his recent one-off Test against India. In that game he was among the standouts. he grabbed six wickets and kept finding ways to bother Indian batters with pace plus movement. Even when spinners were getting assistance for both teams, Saleem was still the most effective pace option on display

His plan, especially at around 140 kmph , and the way he attacks with the new ball , makes him a risky prospect. The opening ODI in Dharamshala is expected to offer something for fast bowlers, and if that happens it could suit his style nicely

He wasn’t even originally in the ODI squad, his inclusion came after that strong Test showing. If he carries the same intensity into these ODIs, he can absolutely climb into the leading wicket-taking conversation.

Also Read | Will Rohit Sharma Play Against Afghanistan? Fresh Injury Concern Emerges ahead of IND vs AFG 1st ODI

Kuldeep Yadav continues to be one of India’s key ODI bowlers. the left-arm wrist spinner is sitting among the highest-ranked ODI bowlers right now, and he’s been a consistent wicket-getter for India. In 120 ODI matches, Kuldeep has picked up 194 wickets with an economy that stays quite respectable too

A big reason he matters is his capacity to strike during the middle overs. when he gets going there, it often helps India control the tempo, and keep batters from settling

Kuldeep has also shown he can do it in recent ODI series. he took nine wickets against South Africa, and then followed it up with helpful contributions versus other top-level opponents as well

With Ravindra Jadeja unavailable, Kuldeep will have the spin responsibility practically on him. Lucknow and Chennai conditions are expected to support spin, so he looks like one of India’s biggest wicket-taking threats

Arshdeep Singh can become a central fast bowling piece for India during this series. since Bumrah and Siraj aren’t in the squad, the left-arm pacer will likely shoulder more overs, more matchups, and more pressure spells

Arshdeep has already proved he can handle ODI cricket. in 15 matches, he has taken 25 wickets and he’s repeatedly delivered breakthroughs with the new ball

One of his best traits is how quickly he can strike in powerplay overs. his swing bowling, in the right kind of conditions, can be pretty uncomfortable for batters who are still trying to time things

Indian team management also views Arshdeep as part of their long-term thinking for the 2027 ODI World Cup. If he puts up strong numbers in this series, it should only boost his standing

Even if both teams have talented batting units, it’s very possible the bowlers end up deciding the storyline. Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai are likely to test batters in different ways, not just in one uniform manner

Mohammad Saleem’s pace, Kuldeep Yadav’s spin, and Arshdeep Singh’s new-ball impact all make them strong contenders to finish near the top of the wicket chart. If they perform, it could end up being the main reason why one side wins the three-match ODI series, rather than the batting alone