India vs Afghanistan 2026: Full Schedule, Squads, and Latest Team Updates for Test & ODI Series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) senior men's selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has officially finalized the squads and itinerary for Afghanistan's highly anticipated multi-format tour of India. Taking place across June 2026, the series represents a key building block for both teams looking ahead to next year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
The tour features a lone historic Test match followed by a high-octane three-match One Day International (ODI) series. With several seasoned names rested or transitioning duties, the BCCI has officially signaled a change of guard.
Complete Tour Schedule & Venues
The tour spans multiple classic venues and debuts across northern, central, and southern India.
| Fixture | Date (2026) | Venue | Start Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only Test Match | June 6 – June 10 | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) | 09:30 AM |
| 1st ODI Match | June 14 (Sunday) | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala | 01:30 PM (D/N) |
| 2nd ODI Match | June 17 (Wednesday) | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 01:30 PM (D/N) |
| 3rd ODI Match | June 20 (Saturday) | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai | 01:30 PM (D/N) |
India Squad & Leadership Breakdowns
The squad dynamic outlines a clear shift towards tactical experimentation, fresh talent testing, and physical load management.
The One-off Test: Gill Named Captain, New Faces Earn Caps
In a significant leadership change, Shubman Gill will lead the Indian Test contingent. KL Rahul has been formally appointed as the vice-captain. Senior icon Ravindra Jadeja alongside lead speedster Jasprit Bumrah have been officially rested to handle their workload safely.
- Maiden Test Call-ups: Spin prodigy Manav Suthar and express pacer Gurnoor Brar have earned their maiden Test call-ups, rewarded heavily for stellar domestic runs and shared stints at their IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans.
- Wicket-keeping Core: Rishabh Pant remains the premier option behind the stumps.
Confirmed India Test Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar.
The ODI Series: Rohit & Hardik Selected Conditional on Fitness
For the white-ball leg, Shubman Gill continues in his capacity as captain with Shreyas Iyer operating as his deputy.
While veteran master Virat Kohli returns to stabilize the top-order alongside primary wicketkeeping choices KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan, the inclusion of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya comes attached to a strict medical caveat. Selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar confirmed that while both are named, their final matchday integration relies completely on clearing imminent physical fitness tests.
- Fresh Blood: Pace bowler Prince Yadav, domestic standout Harsh Dubey, and pacer Gurnoor Brar have broken into the 15-member list. Jasprit Bumrah remains rested for the limited-overs length as well.
Afghanistan's Transitional Phase
The visiting side travels to Indian shores under a transformed locker-room environment. Former coach Jonathan Trott stepped down from the helm immediately following Afghanistan's historic run and eventual exit at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Renowned strategist Richard Pybus has taken over the reins as head coach. This series provides Pybus his first major strategic proving ground to organize the dynamic Afghan roster in long and intermediate formats against the world's most daunting subcontinental hosts.
What to Watch For
- The Mullanpur Debut: The beautiful, newly constructed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in New Chandigarh welcomes Test match cricket, serving as an unpredictable pitch condition for both lineups.
- Spin Legacies Facing Off: Seeing how Afghanistan's world-class mystery spinners test India's revamped middle order on spin-friendly tracks in Lucknow and Chennai will likely decide the ODI series outcome.
- The Captaincy Audition: With Shubman Gill stepping into multi-format captaincy shoes early, tactical deployments under pressure will face extreme public and analytical scouting.