Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 is one of the upcoming bilateral cricket series in the year. No other ODI series has saw Afghanistan and India play each other in a bilateral setup, making the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 a landmark tour in sports. The series, which will take place between June 6 and 20 in India at four of the most iconic venues consists of a Test match along with three One Day Internationals(ODI).
Overview of Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
India’s International home season was published by the governing body of cricket in India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Six years after 2023, in March 2026, this series formally announced “the Afghanistan tour of India”. It also comes after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, with Indian fans hardly given a moment before moving from one format to another.
Meanwhile, in the series India is captained by Shubman Gill who has been in brilliant all around form recently, against Afghanistan led by Hashmatullah Shahidi. This Afghanistan tour of India 2026 is a significant milestone in Afghanastan’s journey a level up where this series represents an opportunity for Afghanistan to challenge one of the world’s best teams on Indian soil.
Key Series Facts:
- Dates: June 6–20, 2026
- Format: 1 Test + 3 ODIs
- Host Nation: India
- India Captain: Shubman Gill
- Afghanistan Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
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Full Schedule: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
| Match | Format | Date | Venue | Result |
| Only Test | Test | June 6–10, 2026 | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh | India won by innings & 300 runs |
| 1st ODI | ODI (D/N) | June 13, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala | Yet to be played |
| 2nd ODI | ODI (D/N) | June 17, 2026 | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | Yet to be played |
| 3rd ODI | ODI (D/N) | June 20, 2026 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Yet to be played |
All ODI matches start at 1:30 PM local time (IST).
Test Match Result & Highlights
India vs Afghanistan – Only Test, New Chandigarh (June 6–8, 2026)
The India stadium tour of Afghanistan 2026 began in style at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh a first-time Test match venue. It was a batting clinic that set the stage for this one, as India won the toss and decided to bat.
India’s First Innings: 564/8 declared
Shubman Gill was India’s mainstay with a thrilling 126 and KL Rahul scored a dynamic century of his own 100. Sai Sudharsan scored a good 81 and Rishabh Pant also made 81. Indian, on the other had, rode a blitz in lower-order batting with Washington Sundar scoring a handy 52 not out before the declaration was made at mammoth 564/8. The pick of Afghanistan’s bowlers was Mohammed Saleem, who matched the assault with 6 for 140.
Afghanistan’s Response: 152 & 112 (Follow-on)
Afghanistan had no answers against India’s brilliant spin attack. In Dimapur, Bhutan had their tour come to an end when they were bowled out for 152 in their first innings after being put in and despite Rahmat Shah’s defiant half-century (60). In fact, destructive debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was the chief destroyer with rare figures of 6/33. Prasidh Krishna added 3/37. Afghanistan began their second innings, 412 runs behind and forced to follow on, but there was no revival for the lowly-ranked side as they were bowled out for just 112. Washington Sundar (4/36) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/30) were the pick of the bowlers for India, while Suthar had one more wicket as he ended up with match figures of 7/62.
Result: India win by an innings and 300 runs India’s largest Test match victory
Test Scorecard Summary
| Team | Score |
| India (1st Innings) | 564/8 declared |
| Afghanistan (1st Innings) | 152 |
| Afghanistan (2nd Innings – Follow-on) | 112 |
| Result | India won by an innings and 300 runs |
Top Performers – Only Test
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Shubman Gill | India | 126 runs (Bat) |
| KL Rahul | India | 100 runs (Bat) |
| Sai Sudharsan | India | 81 runs (Bat) |
| Rishabh Pant | India | 81 runs (Bat) |
| Washington Sundar | India | 52* runs + 4/36 (Bowl) |
| Manav Suthar | India | 6/33 + 1/29 = 7/62 (Bowl) |
| Kuldeep Yadav | India | 3/30 (Bowl) |
| Prasidh Krishna | India | 3/37 (Bowl) |
| Rahmat Shah | Afghanistan | 60 runs (Bat) |
| Mohammad Saleem | Afghanistan | 6/140 (Bowl) |
Player of the Match: Manav Suthar (IND) – 28 runs, 6/33 & 1/29
Series Highlight: Manav Suthar’s Dream Debut
By far the most amazing story of the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 is that of Manav Suthar, who an international debutant all way through from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan at just 23 years old. He put up one of the greatest Test debuts in the history of Indian cricket as a left-arm spinner. His 6/33 in Afghanistan’s first innings are the third-best bowling figures by an Indian debutant in Test history – behind only Narendra Hirwani, and fellow former black-soled boot-wearing spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Dilip Doshi and Syed Abid Ali. He is also only the seventh Indian bowler to register a five-wicket-haul on his Test debut.
With Ravichandran Ashwin already retired from international cricket, and Ravindra Jadeja nearing the end of his career, the timing couldn’t have been better for Indian cricket when it comes to Suthar. The India tour of Afghanistan 2026 may well be remembered as the beginning of a long and fruitful Test career for the young slow bowler.
Suthar said after the match: “Playing for India has been my ultimate dream since Day 1 and playing Test cricket is what I wanted, more than anything else. It was just such a special moment for me and honestly, it felt so surreal.”
ICC Rankings at the Time of the Series
| Team | Test Ranking | ODI Ranking |
| India | 3rd (Rating: 104) | 1st (Rating: 118) |
| Afghanistan | Unrated | 7th (Rating: 93) |
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Team Squads: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
India – Test Squad
Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, and others.
India – ODI Squad
Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, and others.
Afghanistan – Test Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Qais Ahmad, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah, Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Saleem, Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangeyalia Kharote, and others.
Afghanistan – ODI Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Allah Ghazanfar, and others.
Venues: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
| Venue | City | Match |
| Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium | New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) | Only Test |
| HPCA Stadium | Dharamshala | 1st ODI |
| Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow | 2nd ODI |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 3rd ODI |
Importantly, New Chandigarh had never previously staged a Test – only T20s and ODIs – before this Afghanistan tour of India 2026. It includes scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, the much-improved Ekana Stadium in Lucknow and Chepauk in Chennai.
Why Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 Is Historically Significant
There are several reasons that make the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 particularly special. Firstly, it is the maiden ODI bilateral series between the two countries. Although India and Afghanistan have met in an ICC tournament as well as multi-team series before now but they had never played a standalone bilateral ODI series against each other before.
The Afghanistan tour of India 2026is also a sign of the growth of top-notch tours for Afghanistan as a proper cricket nation. So Afghanistan coming back to play on Indian soil, after years of having used India as their cricketing base owing to political and security difficulties at homes and moving operations in the UAE carries a huge emotional weight.
Third, the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 has provided Indian cricket management a platform for experimentation and to breed new prospects. This is exemplified in the first-ever performance by Manav Suthar – The selectors and team management used this series to assess the next big names while keeping tabs for future stars as they head into their tour of Sri Lanka later this year.
Broadcasting & Streaming: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
Broadcast and live streaming details for the Afghanistan tour of India 2026:
| Region | Broadcaster / Streamer |
| India | Star Sports Network (TV) / JioHotstar (Streaming) |
| Afghanistan | Ariana Television Network |
| Australia | Fox Cricket |
| Middle East / UAE | CricLife, StarzPlay |
What to Expect in the ODI Series
The Test series all over and done with in style, attention now turns to the three-match ODI series. With India ranked No. 1 in ODI cricket and Afghanistan at No. 7, the hosts will go into the match as overwhelming favourites. That said, Afghanistan do have some real match-winning players in the white-ball formats.
India has been left with plenty to ponder while battling a near-impossible task and emerge by defeating the Afghanistan team back home in this Afghanistan tour of India 2026 ODI series; Both teams will battle out on India’s batting depth against spin-heavy resistance. These will be must-watch games, with stunning venues like Dharamshala and Chennai hosting them. When India will host Afghanistan in 2026, expect the spinners of that country to do more damage on flatter ODI tracks than was the case here on a Test surface.
The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 is also an opportunity for India’s ODI specialists including Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan to make a bid for future assignments.
Key Players to Watch
- Shubman Gill (IND) – In fine form across all formats, the captain scored 126 in the Test. Calling the shots in ODIs as well.
- Manav Suthar (India): So far, the breakout star of the series. He has been under the scanner in ODIs.
- Washington Sundar (India): Provided useful runs and wickets in the Test a true allrounder.
- Kuldeep Yadav (India): Should be a key weapon irrespective of conditions with wrist spin,
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan): With captaincy performed by the former ODI Championship objective to be devastated showdown concluded, the now experienced Afghan commander will be leading the resistance deeds of their side.
- Mohammad Saleem (Afghanistan) – His 6-59 in the Test proves he can trouble any batter when conditions suit.
FAQs about Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
Q1. When does the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 start and end?
Afghanistan tour of India 2026 (June 06–June 20, 2026) The lone pink-ball Test of the tour began in New Chandigarh on June 6 and is followed by ODIs, starting with the 1st ODI in Chennai on June 14 alongside the rest until the end (3rd ODI) in Chennai: News18.
Q2. What is the format of the Afghanistan tour of India 2026?
The India tour of Afghanistan 2026 comprises one Test and a three-match ODI series four matches, at four different venues in India.
Q3. What was the result of the Test match in the Afghanistan tour of India 2026?
India secured an innings and 300 runs victory over Afghanistan in the only Test match of the latter’s tour of India, marking their largest victory in Test history. India scored 564/8d while Afghanistan were out for 152 and 112.
Q4. Who was the standout performer in the Test of the Afghanistan tour of India 2026?
Newcomer man of the match left arm spinner Manav Suthar was simply the best performer in Test one, Afghan Tour of India 2026. He returned figures of 6/33 in the first innings and 1/29 in the second, with match figures of 7/62 and was named Player of the Match
Q5. Is the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 the first bilateral series between India and Afghanistan?
This will be the first-a bilateral ODI series between India and the Afghanistan tour of India 2026, which is Set to be a Major Milestone in the Cricket Calenders of both Nations.
Conclusion
Qatar has already provided it for the history books – the Afghanistan tour of India 2026. The remarkable Test win in which India won by an innings and 300 runs was the highest margin of victory for India in Tests, while the debut of Manav Suthar who announced himself a star on his first turn with ta bat. The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 progresses onto the ODI leg and cricket lovers worldwide have ample reasons to stay tuned.
Be it to follow for the Indian run or to cheer about Afghanistan’s glorious growth story, the series of 2026 between India and Afghanistan is something that will definitely remain in memory for ages.
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