Afghanistan’s tour of India in June 2026 was always going to be special. It was their first ever bilateral ODI series against India. But no one expected it to be this one-sided. The one-off Test at New Chandigarh ended inside three days with India winning by an innings and 300 runs, their biggest ever Test victory. Debutant Manav Suthar took a six-wicket haul.
Shubman Gill scored a century in his first match as captain. Then came the ODIs. India won the first in Dharamshala by seven wickets. They won the second in Lucknow by 170 runs. By the time the teams reached Chennai, the series was already decided. This is the story of a tour that showed just how deep India’s bench strength really is.
Complete India vs Afghanistan 2026 Schedule and Venues
The tour started with the one-off Test in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10. The ODI series began on June 14 in Dharamshala, followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai. All ODI matches started at 1:30 PM IST. The geographical shift was significant. The teams moved from the foothills of the Himalayas in Dharamshala to the humidity of Lucknow and finally to the coastal heat of Chennai.
One Off Test Match Details in Chandigarh
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh hosted its first ever Test match. India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat. India declared at 564 for 8. KL Rahul scored 100. Gill led from the front with 126. Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant contributed 81 runs each. Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 52.
Afghanistan were bowled out for 152 in their first innings. Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar took 6 for 33. India enforced the follow-on. Afghanistan were dismissed for 112 in their second innings. Washington Sundar took 4 for 36 and Kuldeep Yadav took 3 for 30. India won by an innings and 300 runs. It was India’s biggest ever Test victory.
Three Match ODI Series Fixtures and Timings
The ODI series started on June 14 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The second ODI was on June 17 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The third ODI was on June 20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. All matches began at 1:30 PM IST.
| Date | Format | Venue | Time (IST) |
| June 6-10, 2026 | One-off Test | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, New Chandigarh | 9:30 AM |
| June 14, 2026 | 1st ODI | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala | 1:30 PM |
| June 17, 2026 | 2nd ODI | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 1:30 PM |
| June 20, 2026 | 3rd ODI | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 1:30 PM |
Key Selection Calls for the Indian Squad
The BCCI selection committee took a deliberate approach to this series. With the England tour and the ODI World Cup coming up, workload management was the priority. Jasprit Bumrah was rested. Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were also given a break. Virat Kohli was ruled out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury. This opened the door for younger players to step up.
Shubman Gill Leading a New Era
Shubman Gill took over the captaincy for this series. He had a Test match, where he scored 126 runs. He also led India to a 2-0 ODI series win before the third match. Gill handled the veteran players with authority. Rohit Sharma returned for the ODIs. Virat Kohli was in the ODI squad but missed out due to injury.
Integration of Youngsters Like Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar
The boldest selection decision was handing a Test debut to Manav Suthar. The 23-year-old left-arm spinner from Rajasthan delivered immediately. He took 6 for 33 in Afghanistan’s first innings. He also took one wicket in the second innings. He joined an exclusive club of Indian bowlers with a six-wicket haul on Test debut. He was named Player of the Match. Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey were also included in the Test squad. Prince Yadav was added to the ODI squad and impressed with his bowling.
Afghanistan Roster and Tactical Adjustments
Afghanistan came into the series with a clear strategy. Hashmatullah Shahidi captained both formats. Rashid Khan was rested for the Test but returned for the ODIs. The team was split into two distinct units. The Test squad was built around red-ball specialists. The ODI squad was packed with experienced white-ball players.
Hashmatullah Shahidi Anchoring the Lineup
Hashmatullah Shahidi captained Afghanistan in both formats. He relied heavily on his core top order. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran were the key batters. In the Test, Rahmat Shah scored a fighting 60. But the batting collapsed twice, managing only 152 and 112. Shahidi’s leadership was tested severely. The team struggled to build partnerships against India’s spin attack.
Rashid Khan Returning for White Ball Formats
Rashid Khan was rested for the Test match. He had undergone surgery for a severe back injury and doctors advised him to avoid red-ball cricket. He returned for the ODI series. He had picked up 21 wickets in IPL 2026 for Gujarat Titans. Mohammad Nabi also returned to the ODI squad. The exciting inclusion was teenage mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar. He added a new dimension to the bowling attack.
Comprehensive Team Analysis and Strategic Outlook
India were the clear favourites coming into the series. They were playing at home. They had a deeper squad. They had just won the ODI World Cup. But Afghanistan had unique tools. Their spinners could trouble any batting lineup. Their batters had experience in subcontinental conditions.
Core Advantages and Potential Vulnerabilities
India’s core advantage was their batting depth. They scored 564 in the Test. They crossed 400 in the Lucknow ODI. The spin bowling was world-class. Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar were unplayable at times. The vulnerability was workload management. Resting Bumrah, Jadeja, and Axar Patel exposed the bench.
Growth Prospects and Primary Risks
Afghanistan’s growth prospects were clear. Their spinners, especially Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar, could trouble India on turning tracks. The risk was dramatic batting collapses. They were bowled out for 152 and 112 in the Test. They lost the first ODI by seven wickets and the second by 170 runs. The experience gap between the two sides was massive.
- Core Advantages
World-class spin bowling attack with Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and AM Ghazanfar. Experienced top order with Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Ibrahim Zadran. - Potential Vulnerabilities
Batting collapses under pressure. Bowled out for 152 and 112 in the Test. Lack of experience in overseas conditions. - Growth Prospects
Teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar added mystery to the attack. The ODI series gave younger players exposure against a top team.
Broadcast Details and Live Streaming Platforms
The series was broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India. Live streaming was available on the JioHotstar app and website. The Test match started at 9:30 AM IST. The ODI matches started at 1:30 PM IST. Fans across India could watch the action on television or their mobile devices.
Conclusion and Final Series Predictions
This tour was a statement. India dominated from the first ball of the Test to the last ball of the ODI series. The Test victory was historic. The ODI series was a whitewash. But the real winners were the young players. Manav Suthar announced himself on the biggest stage. Shubman Gill proved he can lead the team. Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar gained invaluable experience.
For Afghanistan, the tour was a harsh lesson. The gap in quality was clear. But they have the talent to bounce back. Rashid Khan will return for the next series. The young spinners will be better for the experience. This tour was not just about the results. It was about building for the future. And India’s future looks very bright.
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