Afghanistan Tour of India 2026: Full Schedule, Squads & Venues

The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 runs from June 6 to June 20, covering 1 Test and 3 ODIs across four cities. The BCCI officially confirmed the schedule on March 2, 2026.

This guide covers the full match schedule, both team squads, venue details, head-to-head stats, and where to watch live, so you have every detail in one place.

Quick Reference: Afghanistan Tour Of India 2026

Afghanistan Tour of India 2026: Full Schedule & Match Timings

The series kicks off with a five-day Test in New Chandigarh, then moves to white-ball cricket across three cities.

The 1st ODI was rescheduled. It now takes place on June 13, not the original date.

India Squads for the Afghanistan Tour 2026

India’s selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, announced both squads on May 19, 2026, following a meeting in Guwahati. Shubman Gill captains India across both formats, a signal of the team’s leadership direction heading into the 2027 cycle.

The notable absence across the board: Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the full series.

India Test Squad

India ODI Squad

* Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are subject to fitness clearance ahead of the ODI series.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the ODI fold, both clearly building form ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Their inclusion signals India’s intent to use this series as meaningful preparation, not just a warm-up exercise.

Afghanistan Squads for the India Tour 2026

Hashmatullah Shahidi captains Afghanistan in both formats. The selectors took a conservative approach with the Test squad, notably resting match-winners Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran for the five-day format. Both return for the ODIs.

Afghanistan Test Squad

Afghanistan ODI Squad

Resting their best players for the Test and bringing them in for ODIs is a calculated move. Afghanistan know where they have the best chance of creating an upset, and it is clearly in the white-ball leg.

Venues: India vs Afghanistan Clash

The series travels north to south, covering four distinctly different playing environments.

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur- One-off Test

A modern facility near Chandigarh, hosting only its second major international series. The pitch here is relatively fresh, which means conditions are expected to assist both seam and spin as the match progresses across five days.

HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala – 1st ODI

Set against the Himalayas at high altitude, this is one of the most visually stunning grounds in world cricket. The cooler air tends to support swing and pace early on. Afghanistan’s batters will need to adjust quickly.

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow – 2nd ODI

Known for its expansive boundaries and balanced surface. This ground regularly produces competitive matches where both bat and ball get a fair deal. Expect a closely contested game here.

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – 3rd ODI

India’s most famous fortress for spinners. The surface in Chennai traditionally turns early and sharply. Given that Afghanistan’s batting has historically struggled against quality spin, this could be the most one-sided of the three ODIs. Then again, Afghanistan bring their own spinners, which makes this an interesting tactical chess match.

India vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record (All Formats)

India has never lost to Afghanistan across any format. The numbers tell a clear story.

The numbers are one-sided, but the story is more nuanced. The 2018 Asia Cup ODI is still talked about, with Mohammad Shahzad’s 124 off 116 balls dragging Afghanistan to a tie that felt like a win for them. Afghanistan have pushed India close multiple times.

That gap, however, is narrowing. As Afghanistan cricket has grown from an Associate nation (ICC membership in 2001) to a Test-playing side that beat Bangladesh and Sri Lanka regularly, the quality of their attacks has improved dramatically. This series could be closer than the record suggests, particularly in the ODIs.

Why This Series Matters Beyond the Results

India enter this series fresh off their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, carrying serious momentum and confidence.

However, this tour is not just a celebratory fixture. Both teams are actively building toward the 2027 ODI World Cup. Every selection decision, every young player given a run, every tactical call made over these four matches carries real consequence for squads that will take shape in the months ahead.

For Afghanistan, a Test win in India would be one of the biggest results in their cricket history. For India, integrating younger talent alongside veterans like Rohit and Kohli is the primary objective.

The competition format, 1 Test + 3 ODIs, also carries ICC World Test Championship (WTC) and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League implications, which means every point matters on the broader circuit.

Where to Watch Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 Live

All four matches are available on the following platforms:

JioHotstar is the official digital streaming partner for the Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 in India. Fans can stream on mobile, tablet, desktop, or smart TV.

International viewers should check their local broadcasters. Sky Sports covers England, SuperSport for South Africa, and Willow TV for North America audiences.

Suggested Reads:

• Sri Lanka Tour of West Indies 2026
• Sri Lanka Tour of West Indies 2026 Tickets

Conclusion: Afghanistan’s India Tour Starts From 6th June 2026

The Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 spans four matches across four cities, from June 6 to June 20. India go in as strong favorites with a 12-0 head-to-head record, but Afghanistan’s ODI squad with Rashid Khan, Gurbaz, and Ghazanfar is more competitive than that record suggests.

With both teams preparing for the 2027 World Cup, every match carries genuine weight. The Chennai ODI on spinning tracks will be the one to watch most closely.