India return to red-ball cricket with a one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The match serves as an important preparation fixture for India ahead of a busy Test season, while Afghanistan will look to challenge a strong Indian side with their spin-heavy attack.
Match Details
- Match: India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test
- Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium
- Date: June 6, 2026
- Toss Time: 9:00 AM IST
- Match Start Time: 9:30 AM IST
Live Telecast And Streaming
- TV Broadcast: Sports18 channels
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website
India Preview
India enter the match looking to rebuild momentum in Test cricket after a difficult recent red-ball phase. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has indicated that youngsters will get major opportunities, with Sai Sudharsan expected to bat at No. 3.
Captain Shubman Gill will lead a relatively fresh-looking batting unit, while bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav are expected to play a key role on a spin-friendly surface.
Likely India XI
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sai Sudharsan
- KL Rahul
- Sarfaraz Khan
- KS Bharat (wk)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mukesh Kumar
Afghanistan Preview
Afghanistan may start as underdogs, but their experienced spin department gives them hope of competing strongly in Indian conditions. Players like Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah will be crucial if Afghanistan want to trouble India.
Likely Afghanistan XI
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Noor Ali Zadran
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Ikram Alikhil (wk)
- Rashid Khan
- Zahir Khan
- Naveed Zadran
- Nijat Masood
- Qais Ahmad
Key Players To Watch
Shubman Gill
The Indian skipper will be under pressure to lead from the front and anchor the batting lineup.
Sai Sudharsan
The youngster is set for a major opportunity at No. 3 after receiving backing from the team management.
Rashid Khan
Afghanistan’s biggest match-winner remains dangerous even in the longest format.
Kuldeep Yadav
The wrist-spinner could dominate if the pitch begins assisting spin from Day 2 onward.
Head-to-Head
India and Afghanistan have previously met only once in Test cricket — in 2018 — where India won by an innings and 262 runs.
