Image: India vs Afghanistan Test 2026 — The one-off Test begins June 6 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh.
The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 spans 1 Test and 3 ODIs from June 6 to June 20. The India vs Afghanistan Test 2026 is the headline event, while the ODI series features fresh venues across Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
| MATCH | DATE | VENUE | TIME (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-off Test | June 6–10, 2026 | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Intl. Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh | 9:30 AM |
| 1st ODI | June 13, 2026 | HP Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala | 1:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | June 17, 2026 | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 1:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | June 20, 2026 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 1:30 PM |
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India’s Test squad for the one-off match is captained by Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul as vice-captain. Notably absent from familiar names, the selection committee has used this low-stakes fixture as a genuine audition for the next Test cycle, handing maiden call-ups to domestic stars Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, and Manav Suthar — all three specialising in spin-friendly conditions.
| # | PLAYER | ROLE | BATTING | BOWLING | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill C | Batter | Right-hand | Offbreak | 26 |
| 2 | KL Rahul VC | WK-Batter | Right-hand | — | 34 |
| 3 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter | Left-hand | Legbreak | 24 |
| 4 | Dhruv Jurel † | WK-Batter | Right-hand | — | 25 |
| 5 | Devdutt Padikkal | Batter | Left-hand | Offbreak | 25 |
| 6 | Rishabh Pant † | WK-Batter | Left-hand | — | 28 |
| 7 | Sai Sudharsan | Batter | Left-hand | Legbreak | 24 |
| 8 | Harsh Dubey NEW | Allrounder | Left-hand | Slow L-arm Orthodox | 23 |
| 9 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | Allrounder | Right-hand | Medium fast | 22 |
| 10 | Manav Suthar NEW | Allrounder | Left-hand | Slow L-arm Orthodox | 23 |
| 11 | Washington Sundar | Allrounder | Left-hand | Offbreak | 26 |
| 12 | Gurnoor Brar NEW | Bowler | Left-hand | Right-arm Fast | 25 |
| 13 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler | Left-hand | L-arm Wrist spin | 31 |
| 14 | Mohammed Siraj | Bowler | Right-hand | Right-arm Fast | 32 |
| 15 | Prasidh Krishna | Bowler | Right-hand | Right-arm Fast medium | 30 |
Afghanistan arrive with their most experienced Test lineup yet. Hashmatullah Shahidi leads a squad boasting genuine Test match quality, particularly in the spin department with Rahmat Shah’s Legbreak Googly and Sharafuddin Ashraf’s orthodox variations. The batting, however, still rests heavily on Shahidi himself and opening duo Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal.
| # | PLAYER | ROLE | BATTING | BOWLING | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hashmatullah Shahidi C | Batter | Left-hand | Offbreak | 31 |
| 2 | Abdul Malik | Batter | Right-hand | Offbreak | 27 |
| 3 | Afsar Zazai † | WK-Batter | Right-hand | — | 32 |
| 4 | Ikram Alikhil † | WK-Batter | Left-hand | — | 25 |
| 5 | Rahmanullah | Batter | Right-hand | — | 23 |
| 6 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz † | WK-Batter | Right-hand | Medium | 24 |
| 7 | Sediqullah Atal | Batter | Left-hand | — | 24 |
| 8 | Azmatullah Omarzai | Allrounder | Right-hand | Medium fast | 26 |
| 9 | Nangeyalia Kharote | Allrounder | Left-hand | Slow L-arm Orthodox | 22 |
| 10 | Rahmat Shah | Allrounder | Right-hand | Legbreak Googly | 32 |
| 11 | Sharafuddin Ashraf | Allrounder | Right-hand | Slow L-arm Orthodox | 31 |
| 12 | Bilal Sami | Bowler | Right-hand | Right-arm Medium | 22 |
| 13 | Mohammad Saleem | Bowler | Right-hand | Right-arm Fast | 23 |
| 14 | Qais Ahmad | Bowler | Right-hand | Legbreak | 25 |
| 15 | Ziaur Rahman | Bowler | Right-hand | Right-arm Medium fast | 27 |
The India vs Afghanistan Test 2026 is not merely a cricket match—it is a collision of ambition and belief, where one nation defends its legacy, another chases history, and every session becomes a battle for respect in the game’s toughest format.
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, is the newest Test venue in India. Built to accommodate 35,000 spectators, it hosted its first international fixtures relatively recently, making historical pitch data limited — which itself is a talking point for team selection.
Read Key Talking Points about India vs Afghanistan Test
Early evidence from domestic matches at Mullanpur suggests a pitch that offers assistance to pace bowlers on Day 1 before the surface settles into a spin-friendly track by Day 3 and beyond. The outfield is expansive and fast, favouring aggressive stroke play. A fresh wicket almost always shows some lateral movement in the opening two sessions — a potential problem for Afghanistan’s top order, who have historically struggled against quality fast bowling in Test cricket.
June weather in New Chandigarh means heat (expected 38–42°C) and low humidity early in the week, with slim but non-zero chances of thunderstorm interruption later in the match. India’s bowlers — accustomed to these conditions — will hold a natural advantage.
India and Afghanistan have met in only one Test to date — in Bengaluru in 2018 — which India won by a margin of an innings and 262 runs. Afghanistan were bundled out for 109 and 103 in that match on a difficult surface. Since then, Afghanistan’s Test programme has matured significantly, but India remain the dominant force in this fixture.
In four ODIs between the sides, India have won three, with one tie. The only defeat on a win/loss basis has never occurred — India are unbeaten in ODIs against Afghanistan. The 2026 three-match ODI series following this Test will be an equally fascinating contest, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli likely to join the squad in the white-ball format.
One of the biggest stories around the India vs Afghanistan Test 2026 is the BCCI’s decision to use this match as a genuine audition. Three domestic performers have earned maiden Test call-ups — and each one has a compelling claim to a long-term place in India’s plans.
The 23-year-old has been one of the most consistent left-arm spinners in domestic cricket over the past two Ranji Trophy cycles. His ability to extract sharp turn even on unresponsive surfaces, combined with a natural away-going angle for right-handers, makes him a potent weapon against Afghanistan’s predominantly right-handed top order.
Another slow left-armer from Rajasthan, Suthar gives India an embarrassment of riches in the spin department. His call-up signals that the selection committee values depth over variety here — something they’re willing to do with Afghanistan’s batters likely to struggle against quality spin on a turning track.
The Punjab pacer brings serious pace and the ability to hit the deck hard. Brar’s domestic record is exceptional — over 200 wickets at a strong average in First Class cricket — and this Test offers him the perfect chance to cement a spot in India’s long-term pace rotation alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Kuldeep's wrist spin — going away from the left-hander and turning back sharply — is a nightmare match-up for Shahidi, who relies on a straight bat and conservative technique. The Afghanistan captain will need to play the lone hand for his side.
Jaiswal's aggressive left-hand batting against Qais Ahmad's legbreak variations. Jaiswal is stronger against pace — the Afghan wrist spinner could be the bowler who most troubles him early in his innings.
As captain and India's highest-ranked Test batter in the squad, Gill needs to set the tone early. Mohammad Saleem's right-arm pace will test Gill's off-stump corridor in the first session.
Rahmat Shah is Afghanistan's most technically gifted Test batter. Washington Sundar's offbreak and ability to hold one end will be critical — he can dry up runs while the wrist spinners operate at the other end.
It has never happened in their one previous Test against India, but Afghanistan’s batting has matured since 2018. If their top three — Shahidi, Atal, and Gurbaz — can replicate their T20 composure at the Test level, a competitive first innings score is achievable. Anything above 250 should be considered a success for the visitors.
India have listed three wicketkeepers in their Test squad — Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Dhruv Jurel. This is one of the most important selection decisions Gill faces in his captaincy tenure. Pant’s explosive batting makes him the instinctive pick, but his fitness management will be closely monitored given his comeback from injury. Jurel’s form in domestic cricket has been outstanding and he may get the gloves here.
With the retirement of seniors and a new-look squad, this India vs Afghanistan Test 2026 could mark a transitional moment in Indian cricket. Several players — Jaiswal, Sudharsan, Padikkal, and Nitish Kumar Reddy — are auditioning for permanent places in a post-Rohit, post-Kohli Test side. Their performances here will carry significant weight in squad conversations for the remainder of the year.
India’s spin-heavy selection — potentially three or even four spinners in the playing eleven — signals that the team management expects turn. Kuldeep, Washington Sundar, plus one or both of Dubey or Suthar in the XI would create a relentless spin carousel that Afghanistan’s batters have never faced at Test level in India before.
Although Mohammad Nabi is listed in the Afghanistan ODI squad and not the Test squad, his absence from the Test format means Afghanistan lack their most impactful all-round performer. Azmatullah Omarzai and Sharafuddin Ashraf have big shoes to fill in the all-rounder slots.
The India vs Afghanistan one-off Test begins on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 9:30 AM IST (4:00 AM GMT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur).
The match is being played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, located in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, Punjab. It is one of India’s newest international venues, with a capacity of around 35,000.
Shubman Gill is captaining India in the one-off Test against Afghanistan 2026. KL Rahul serves as vice-captain. This marks an important chapter in Gill’s captaincy development at the Test level.
No. India and Afghanistan have played only one Test before — in Bengaluru in 2018 — which India won by an innings and 262 runs. Afghanistan have never beaten India in a Test match.
Neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma is part of the India Test squad for the Afghanistan series 2026. Both are named in the ODI squad, so they are expected to feature in the three-match ODI series that follows the Test.
Three players have received maiden Test call-ups in India’s squad for the Afghanistan series: Harsh Dubey (slow left-arm orthodox), Manav Suthar (slow left-arm orthodox), and Gurnoor Brar (right-arm fast). All three are domestic standouts who have earned their opportunities through consistent Ranji Trophy performances.
In India, the match is expected to be broadcast on Star Sports and available for live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. International broadcast rights vary by region — check your local sports broadcaster for live coverage details. BCCI’s official app may also offer supplementary live content.
India are unbeaten against Afghanistan in ODIs, having won 3 of 4 matches with 1 tied. Results include wins by 8 wickets (Delhi, 2023), 11 runs (Southampton, 2019), and 8 wickets (Mirpur, 2014), with one tied match in Dubai in 2018.
The India vs Afghanistan Test 2026 is more than just a routine fixture — it is a window into the next chapter of Indian Test cricket. With three uncapped players in the squad, a new captain, and a venue providing limited historical data, there are genuine unknowns heading into June 6. For Afghanistan, this remains a match to show the world they belong in the same Test arena as the game’s greatest home side. They may not win — but a competitive performance, particularly from Hashmatullah Shahidi and the spin all-rounders, would be a meaningful step forward for Test cricket’s newest regular participants.
