India’s Cricket team will be tested when they face Afghanistan in the first of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala on June 13. While the batting order remains strong in Virat Kohli’s absence, the fast bowlers will need to step up.
New players like Gurnoor Brar or Prince Yadav may receive their debut caps, while Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna are set to lead the pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav will be crucial in the spin department, aiming to regain his form after a challenging IPL season with Delhi Capitals and a modest performance in the recent Test against Afghanistan.
This series marks the first bilateral ODI encounter between India and Afghanistan, who have previously only met in ICC and ACC tournaments. Afghanistan has a strong team, which could make this match a tough one for India.
IND vs AFG Match Info
| Date | Fixture | Match No | Venue | Start time (Local time) |
| Saturday, June 12 | India vs Afghanistan | 1st ODI | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala | 1:30 PM |
Venue Statistics (ODI)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 9 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 4 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 5 |
| No Result | – |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 254 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 228 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 388/10 (49.2) by Australia vs New Zealand, 2023 |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 112/10 (38.2) by India vs Sri Lanka, 2017 |
| Highest Score Chased | 274 [274/6 in 48 overs] by India vs New Zealand, 2023 |
| Lowest Score Defended | 243 by Netherlands vs South Africa in 2023 |
HPCA Stadium Pitch Report and Playing Conditions:
| Aspect | Batters | Pacers | Spinners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Assistance | Good | Decent | Average |
| Bounce | Good | Good | Moderate |
| Movement/turn | Good | Minimal after powerplay | Moderate |
| Best Phase | Middle overs | With the new ball | Middle Overs |
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head record (ODIs)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 4 |
| India | 3 |
| Afghanistan | 0 |
| Tied | 1 |
India vs Afghanistan Playing XI Prediction
India
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav/Gurnoor Brar
Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur Rahman
Players to watch out for:
Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan is expected to bat at three for India in Virat Kohli’s absence. He has been in excellent form, scoring over 600 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 and being the second leading run-scorer (317) for India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Kuldeep Yadav
This series is crucial for Kuldeep after a quiet IPL. He is a match-winner who can control batters during the middle overs. A strong performance is essential for him to regain confidence following a challenging season with Delhi Capitals.