India vs Afghanistan clash: The international cricket calendar returns to action right after a gruelling IPL season as India gears up to host Afghanistan in a highly anticipated multi-format bilateral tour starting June 6, 2026. Consisting of a historic one-off Test match and a crucial three-match One Day International (ODI) series, this tour marks a monumental stepping stone for both nations.
While Afghanistan continues to seek a firm footing in red-ball cricket, the Indian team is utilizing this series to experiment with youth and kickstart their early preparations for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.
The Complete India vs Afghanistan 2026 Tour Schedule
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has distributed the matches across four distinct modern venues, promising unique pitch conditions and packed stadiums.
| Date | Match Format | Timings (IST) | Venue |
| June 6 – June 10 | One-Off Test Match | 9:30 AM | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| June 13 | 1st ODI Match | 1:30 PM | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala |
| June 17 | 2nd ODI Match | 1:30 PM | Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
| June 20 | 3rd ODI Match | 1:30 PM | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
Historic Context: Head-to-Head and Test Venue Debut
New Chandigarh Makes History as India’s 31st Test Venue
The opening game of the tour at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA International Stadium in Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) is a monumental occasion for regional cricket. The state-of-the-art facility will officially become India’s 31st Test venue.
Adding to the local flavor, local Punjab hero Shubman Gill is slated to captain the Indian Test side for the first time on his home ground, alongside local pacer Gurnoor Brar.
Red-Ball Rivalry: Breaking an Eight-Year Hibernation
The two teams have historically met only once in the longest format of the game. That historic face-off occurred in Bengaluru back in 2018, which marked Afghanistan’s debut Test match. India dominated that fixture, securing a victory by an innings and 262 runs within just two days. The 2026 fixture serves as their first red-ball clash in eight years.
A Historic First in the 50-Over Format
Surprisingly, despite facing each other in multi-nation events like the Asia Cup and ICC World Cups, this is the first time in cricket history that India and Afghanistan will compete in a formal, bilateral ODI series.
Strategic Team Selection: In-Depth Squad Breakdown
Team India: Gill Takes the Reins as Senior Stars Rest for Tests
The national selectors have strategically opted for a split-squad formula. Shubman Gill will captain both the Test and ODI units. For the one-off Test, premium frontline stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested. This opens the door for young domestic standouts like Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
However, the core batting unit retains muscle with the likes of KL Rahul (serving as vice-captain) and a returning Rishabh Pant. For the ODI leg, talismanic veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to anchor the batting lineup.
India’s Test Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (WK).
Team Afghanistan: Managing Workloads and Fresh Seam Talent
Led by veteran batsman Hashmatullah Shahidi across both formats, Afghanistan enters this series with a reshaped unit following their recent red-ball learning curves in Harare.
Crucially, the visitors have decided to rest legendary spinner Rashid Khan and young talent Ibrahim Zadran for the one-off Test to manage their bowling workloads, saving them for the competitive ODI leg. Key inclusions like Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Sediqullah Atal add depth to their lineup.
Afghanistan’s Test Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Qais Ahmad, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nangialai Kharoti, Abdul Malik, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem, Bilal Sami, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (WK).
Tactical Analysis: Key Players to Watch Out For
1. Shubman Gill (India)
Fresh from an exceptional individual IPL season, all eyes will be on Gill’s tactical acumen as he guides a young team. Navigating the bowling variations of the Afghan spinners on a fresh Mullanpur track will test his leadership directly.
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan)
An explosive, fearless opening batter who can take the game away from any bowling attack in the powerplay. Gurbaz’s performance at the top of the order will dictate whether Afghanistan can pose a massive threat to the Indian bowling lineup in the ODIs.
3. Kuldeep Yadav (India)
With the Afghanistan camp traditionally thriving against orthodox finger spin, Kuldeep Yadav’s deceptive left-arm wrist-spin will be India’s primary weapon in breaking partnerships during the middle overs across both formats.
Catch Every Ball Live: Broadcast Details
The full series will be broadcast live across television screens via the Star Sports Network. For digital viewers and cord-cutters, the entire tour will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.
Also read, FIFA World Cup 2026: Complete Guide to Teams, History, Records and Favourites
Watch Latest News Videos on KRH News: Click Here