India vs Afghanistan Test: Preview, Schedule, H2H Record, Squads - All You Need To Know

As India returns to the longest format after a brief hiatus, all eyes turn to the one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled for June 6-10, 2026, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

This marks the second-ever Test encounter between the two sides and Afghanistan’s first Test in India since their debut in 2018. Under new Test captain Shubman Gill, India aims to assert dominance on home soil while grooming a fresh generation of red-ball talent.

India's batting lineup looks formidable with explosive openers, solid middle-order options, and a balanced attack featuring both pace and spin. Afghanistan will fight hard to avoid another heavy defeat. This match serves as important preparation for India's future tours while testing Afghanistan's growth in Test cricket.

IND vs AFG Schedule and Venue Details

The solitary Test begins at 9:30 AM IST. The venue in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, will host its first-ever Test match. The pitch is expected to offer early seam movement before assisting spinners as the game progresses. Weather forecasts suggest mostly clear conditions with minimal chance of rain interruption.

India vs Afghanistan Team News

Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for workload management. Shubman Gill leads a youthful squad, with KL Rahul named vice-captain. Gurnoor Brar is set to make his debut, as Mohammed Siraj is doubtful for the match. Afghanistan will be aiming to secure a strong mark as they play a strong Indian side. Rashid Khan is set to play a key part, while Mohammad Nabi may have an all-round role to play in this one-off Test match.

IND vs AFG H2H Record

In their only previous Test meeting in Bengaluru in June 2018, India crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs inside two days. India enter this contest as overwhelming favorites. Afghanistan have played very few Tests and lack depth in the longest format, relying heavily on stars like Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

India Squad

Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wk)

Afghanistan Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Nasir Jamal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Nijat Masood, Qais Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Bilal Sami