India will take on Afghanistan in the one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, starting on Saturday, June 6. Fans will be eager to see how both the teams perform in this much-awaited red ball encounter.
India will enter the competition under the leadership of Shubman Gill. With several senior players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja unavailable, this match provides a valuable opportunity for young players to step up and stake their claim in the national setup.
Afghanistan will aim to continue their progress in the longest format and test themselves against one of the strongest teams in the world. Test matches give many players from both sides a chance to showcase their skills and leave a lasting impact.
india vs afg one off test match details
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match: India vs Afghanistan, one-off test
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series: India tour of Afghanistan 2026
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venue: Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium
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Place: New Chandigarh, Punjab
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date: June 6-10, 2026
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Match start time: 9:30 am IST
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Toss time: 9:00 AM IST
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Format: Test (five-day match)
India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test Team News
India will be without its key players Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, who have been rested for the one-off Test. Shubman Gill will captain the team, while KL Rahul has been made the vice-captain.
Afghanistan has also suffered a big blow, star spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rehman are not available for the match. His absence will leave Afghanistan without two of its most experienced bowling options for this important Test.
India vs Afghanistan one off test probable playing XI
India are expected to field a balanced team with a strong top order, good all-rounders and a young bowling attack. Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain KL Rahul will play important roles with the bat.
Kuldeep Yadav is likely to play a key role on a surface that supports spin. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna will lead the pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s probable playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Afghanistan will rely heavily on their experienced batting corps led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah. Rehmanullah Gurbaz can provide attacking starts at the top, while Azmatullah Umarzai adds balance as an all-rounder.
With Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rehman unavailable, most of the bowling responsibility will fall on leg spinner Qais Ahmed and the pace duo of Bilal Sami and Salim Safi.
Afghanistan’s probable playing XI: Rehmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Umarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmed, Bilal Sami, Salim Safi.
India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test Pitch Report
The Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh will host its first Test match. The venue has mainly hosted T20 games so far, but the surface is expected to be a balanced competition between bat and ball.
The fresh black soil pitch should provide good bounce and bounce at the start of the match, which will give the fast bowlers some help with the new ball. Once the initial activity fades away, the batsmen are likely to enjoy favorable conditions and can score freely if they settle into it.
As the Test progresses, the surface is expected to become slick and provide more grip for the spinners. Teams batting first may have an advantage, a score of around 350-400 in the first innings may put significant pressure on the opposition team.
India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test Weather Report
The weather in Mullanpur is expected to be hot and mostly dry during the five-day Test. Temperatures are expected to remain between 35°C and 38°C, with hazy sunshine forecast for most of the match.
There is a possibility of thunderstorms during the morning hours on the first day, but interruptions in heavy rain are not expected. Humidity is expected to be around 32%, making conditions challenging for players who have to stay on the field for long periods of time.
As the match progresses, wear and tear on the pitch may increase due to the hot weather. As a result, the captain who wins the toss may choose to bat first and take advantage of better batting conditions early in the game.
India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test Head-to-Head Record
India and Afghanistan have faced each other only once in Test cricket. Their only meeting took place in June 2018 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
India dominated that match and won by an innings and 262 runs. After scoring 474 runs in their first innings, India bowled out Afghanistan for 109 and 103 to seal a comprehensive win.
Key players to watch in India vs Afghanistan one-off Test
Shubman Gill (India):
India captain Shubman Gill will be one of the key players to keep an eye on in this Test. In 2025, he scored 983 runs in nine Test matches at an average of 70.21. Gill will take on the responsibility of leading the batting unit and guiding India into the new era of Test cricket.
KL Rahul (India):
KL Rahul will provide stability at the top of the order and will play a vital role along with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul’s ability to bat for longer periods on a surface that is expected to be better for batting could be crucial.
Kuldeep Yadav (India):
Kuldeep Yadav could be India’s biggest threat with the ball, especially when the pitch starts deteriorating. The left-arm wrist spinner has taken 76 Test wickets at an average of 22.42. His ability to generate turn and deceive the batsmen makes him a major weapon against Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan):
Rahmat Shah is Afghanistan’s most reliable batsman in Test cricket. He has scored 970 runs in 11 Test matches at an average of 46.19, making him the country’s leading run-scorer in this format. Afghanistan will rely heavily on their experience and technique against India’s bowling attack.
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan):
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is the backbone of Afghanistan’s batting unit. This left-handed batsman has played many memorable innings in Test cricket, which also includes a double century. Their ability to occupy the crease and build partnerships will be crucial if Afghanistan are to challenge India.
Qais Ahmed (Afghanistan):
With Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rehman unavailable, most of the responsibility for Afghanistan’s bowling will fall on Qais Ahmed. The leg spinner has earned a reputation as a wicket-taking bowler in red-ball cricket and can become a major factor if the pitch starts aiding spin later in the match.
Key battles to watch in India vs Afghanistan one-off test
Shubman Gill vs Qais Ahmed
Shubman Gill will enter the match in exceptional form and will be an important wicket for Afghanistan. Leg spinner Qais Ahmed is expected to lead Afghanistan’s spin attack and can pose a challenge if the pitch starts turning.
Kuldeep Yadav vs Rehmat Shah
Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin could be one of India’s biggest weapons on the pitch, which is expected to help the spinners later in the game. If Rahmat Shah hopes to get the innings going and take his team to a competitive score, he will have to manage Kuldeep’s variations.
KL Rahul vs Bilal Sami
KL Rahul’s experience at the top of the order will be important for India, especially against the new ball. Afghanistan fast bowler Bilal Sami will look to achieve early success and put pressure on India’s batting lineup.
India vs Afghanistan sole test venue records and statistics
The Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh will host its first Test match. The venue has mainly hosted T20 matches since its inauguration and has been the regular home ground of the Punjab Kings in the IPL.
In T20 cricket at this venue, the average score in the first innings is 178, while the average score in the second innings drops to 162. As the match progresses, the surface becomes slower.
The black soil pitch is known to have good bounce and helps the fast bowlers in the beginning. As the game progresses, spinners are expected to come into play as the surface offers more turn and grip. In Test cricket, a score of around 350-400 in the first innings at this venue could prove competitive.
India vs Afghanistan One-Off Test Live Streaming and Telecast Details
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TV broadcast: star sports network
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Channel: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports Hindi, Star Sports Tamil and Star Sports Telugu
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live streaming: JioHotstar app and website
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Membership Required: Yes
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Matching Format: Examination
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venue: Maharaja Yadvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
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Start time: 9:30 am IST
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Toss time: 9:00 AM IST
Fans can watch the match live on Star Sports Network or stream it on JioHotstar with an active subscription.
India vs Afghanistan one-off test match prediction
India will go into the one-off Test as clear favourites. The hosts have a strong batting lineup which includes Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. Their bowling attack led by Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav also gives them significant advantages.
India’s excellent home record in Test cricket and greater depth in all departments makes them a stronger team on paper. If the hosts perform up to their potential, they should take control of the match from the early stages and secure a comfortable win.
Prediction: India will win the one-sided test.
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