India will play their first Test of 2026 from June 6 to 10, as they host Afghanistan at the PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh, at 9:30 AM (IST). This will be the only Test of Afghanistan’s tour of India and the first time that the two teams will collide in a red-ball game since their only previous meeting in June 2018, when Afghanistan played their maiden Test.
India has introduced several fresh faces in the team for this Test, including two potential debutants, Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar. Devdutt Padikkal has also found his way back into the Tests at the back of a fantastic domestic season, as he competes for the number 3 position in the XI.
For the visitors, Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the team, with names like Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai in focus in the absence of their stalwart Rashid Khan.
As the two sides take on each other in what would be a non-WTC Test, we take a look at things to expect from the match.
IND vs AFG player battles
KL Rahul vs Ziaur Rahman
KL Rahul is coming off a great year in Tests, where he scored 813 runs at an average of 45.16, only behind Shubman Gill and Travis Head. Now that he has been made vice-captain of the team again and India needs to put on good performances to qualify for the WTC final, he would like to lead from the front.
Also Read: Where Is India's Test Squad From Afghanistan's 2018 Last Test?
He will face the right-arm quick, Ziaur Rahman, with the new ball after the bowler bowled brilliantly for his 7/97 on Test debut in 2025. He also has good FC numbers, picking 89 wickets in 29 matches at an average of 25.37.
Rahmat Shah vs Mohammed Siraj
Having played 11 Test matches, Rahmat Shah is Afghanistan’s leading run-scorer in the format. He has 970 runs and could reach the milestone of 1000 Test runs against India in Mullanpur. He will bat at 3, with a fantastic record of five fifties and three hundreds, including a best score of 234.
After being left out of the ODIs, Mohammed Siraj will bowl with his tail up, considering he is the leader of the bowling attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. So, the best batter of Afghanistan vs the best pacer of India will be an interesting watch.
Shubman Gill vs Qais Ahmad
As mentioned above, Shubman Gill was last year’s best batter in Tests, with 983 runs in 9 matches, averaging 70.21 with five centuries to his name. He would love to pick up from where he left off last year before suffering neck spasms and will face Qais Ahmad’s leg-break bowling with the old ball.
In Rashid Khan’s absence, Qais becomes their leading spinner, with 89 FC wickets in 17 matches at an impressive average of 21.86.
IND vs AFG top performers (current squad members)
Most runs for IND vs AFG
KL Rahul scored 54 runs in the solitary innings played against Afghanistan in 2018.
Most wickets for IND vs AFG
None of the current Indian bowlers played the aforementioned match.
Most runs for AFG vs IND
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 47 runs in two innings against India. His best score was an unbeaten 36 runs in an innings.
Most wickets for AFG vs IND
None of the current Afghanistan bowlers played the aforementioned match.
IND vs AFG toss prediction
So far, no Test match has been played in Mullanpur, but in six FC matches, one has ended in a win for the team batting first, while the other five have ended in draws. The pacers have done well at the venue, but as the match progresses, the spinners will have a say, as at most venues in India.
The team winning the toss is likely to bat first and put runs on the board.
IND vs AFG 1st innings score prediction
Final score – 576/4 (dec)
IND vs AFG 2nd innings score prediction
Final score – 398/10
IND vs AFG 3rd innings score prediction
Final score – 225/3 (dec)
IND vs AFG 4th innings score prediction
Final score – 210/10
IND vs AFG top players prediction
IND top players' prediction
Probable best batters
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul
Probable best bowlers
Mohammed Siraj, Harsh Dubey
AFG top players prediction
Probable best batters
Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Probable best bowlers
Ziaur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai
Who will score the most fours in IND vs AFG Only Test?
KL Rahul
IND vs AFG match winner prediction: Who will win the Only Test?
The two teams are facing off in a Test for the first time since 2018, and Afghanistan have gained a decent amount of experience in the meantime.
However, they are still in the developmental stage, and India’s second-string team is still considerably better than them. Expect a comfortable India win in the first-ever Test at the venue.
Also Read: Rashid Khan’s Test Retirement Decision To Come With A Surprising Twist
