India and Afghanistan are set to renew their cricketing rivalry with a multi-format series beginning with a one-off Test match in June 2026. The contest marks only the second Test meeting between the two nations and comes nearly eight years after Afghanistan played its maiden Test on Indian soil. The series will also serve as an important preparation phase for both teams ahead of major international assignments, including the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup next year.
The standalone Test match is scheduled to begin on June 6 at New Chandigarh and will be followed by a three-match One-Day International series. The ODI leg will commence in Dharamsala on June 13, before moving to Lucknow for the second match on June 17 and concluding in Chennai on June 20. All ODI matches are slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. IST, while the Test match will start at 9:30 a.m. IST.
India will be led by Shubman Gill in both formats, with senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to the ODI setup, subject to fitness clearance. The Indian squad also includes KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh among other prominent names. The selectors have also retained several emerging players, reflecting a balance of experience and youth in the squad.
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Afghanistan, meanwhile, will enter the series under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi. The visitors will rely on key performers such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai. The series will also be one of the first assignments under new head coach Richard Pybus, who recently succeeded Jonathan Trott following Afghanistan's T20 World Cup campaign.
The ODI series is expected to attract significant attention as both teams fine-tune their combinations for future international tournaments. India will look to capitalise on home conditions, while Afghanistan will aim to continue its rise as a competitive force in world cricket. Their performances in recent ICC events have demonstrated their ability to challenge established cricketing nations across formats.
Fans will be able to watch the entire India-Afghanistan series live on the Star Sports Network, while digital streaming will be available through the JioHotstar platform. With a mix of experienced stars, emerging talent and important World Cup preparations at stake, the series is expected to provide valuable insights into the strengths and strategies of both sides ahead of a busy international calendar.
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