Shubman Gill-led India gear up for Afghanistan challenge in one-off Test
Our skipper Shubman Gill will lead the Indian Test side in the upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan, starting in Mullanpur on June 6.
05 June, 2026
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The Indian cricket team will return to action in a one-off Test match against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, starting on Saturday, June 6.
This India vs Afghanistan one-off Test will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, which will become India’s newest Test venue.
Following India’s last Test assignment against South Africa in November 2025, Titans’ captain Shubman Gill will return to lead Team India under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir, while KL Rahul will be his deputy for the upcoming Test.
Interestingly, India's 15-man Test squad features seven Titans, while a few members of our 2026 IPL squad have earned their maiden Test call-ups. Youngsters Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar could make their Test debut in Mullanpur, marking a remarkable milestone and a proud moment for both the players and the Titans FAM.
Alongside the two emerging youngsters, the spotlight will also be on our experienced campaigners - Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Our Titans selected in India's Test squad enjoyed an excellent TATA IPL 2026 campaign, with Shubman Gill and Mr. Consistent Sai Su ending in the top three of the tournament's leading run-scorers.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna made a big impact with the ball, consistently picking up wickets throughout the season. Our star all-rounder Washi also played a key role with the bat, producing several exceptional knocks under pressure. Our Titans will be aiming to carry forward their stellar form and play a crucial role for India in the red-ball format.
For the one-off Test against Afghanistan, the responsibilities will lie on the shoulders of India’s vaunted batting line-up, featuring KL Rahul, Sai Su, captain Gill, and Rishabh Pant. The experienced campaigners are expected to play a pivotal role in India's batting unit.
In addition, skipper Gill is just 157 runs away from reaching the milestone of 3,000 Test runs. Given his current form, he will back himself to reach the landmark in the upcoming Test match.
Meanwhile, Miyan Siraj, ‘Skiddy’ Prasidh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar are likely to spearhead India's bowling attack. Their performances will be crucial to India's chances against Afghanistan.
India vs Afghanistan head-to-head in Test cricket
India have previously faced Afghanistan only once in Test cricket in 2018. Under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, India hosted Afghanistan in a one-off Test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
It was a historic match as Afghanistan made their Test debut. However, India emerged victorious with a comprehensive win inside two days of play. The hosts defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs, with Shikhar Dhawan being named Player of the Match for his brilliant 107 off 96 balls in the first innings.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 schedule and live match start times
All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)
Day and Date
Match
Venue
Time (IST)
Saturday, June 6 - Wednesday, June 10
India vs Afghanistan, One-off Test
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh
9:30 AM
India vs Afghanistan 2026 one-off Test squads
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper)
