Written By: Shreya Patil
Published: June 12, 2026

India are clear favourites against Afghanistan in the 1st ODI of the Afghanistan tour of India 2026, carrying a 65% win probability.

Shubman Gill’s India arrive on the back of a one-off Test win but carry a worrying 1-from-5 ODI record heading into this fixture. Meanwhile, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan look to extend their unbeaten run to six matches in the format.

Furthermore, the day fixture unfolds at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 1:30 PM IST.

IND vs AFG Match Details

DetailsInformation
MatchIndia vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI, Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
Date & Time (IST)Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1:30 PM
VenueHimachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Series3-match ODI series
BroadcastJioStar Network channels
Live StreamingJioHotstar app and website

IND vs AFG Match Odds & Win Probability

The market lists India as moderate favourites, though Afghanistan’s recent form makes the price closer than many would have expected even six months ago.

OutcomeOddsImplied Probability
India to win~1.30~77%
Afghanistan to win~3.60~28%
Win Probability (Model)IND 65% / AFG 35%Expert call

*Indicative odds. Markets shift through the day, so always check the latest line on your platform of choice before placing any wager.

HPCA Stadium Pitch & Dharamsala Weather Report

The HPCA Stadium surface offers a belter of a batting track, especially in the first innings, pitch read.

Moreover, smaller boundary dimensions plus a blazing-fast outfield make scoring easier here than at most Indian venues. However, ample bounce keeps the fast bowlers in the contest throughout the 50 overs.

Additionally, the toss-winning captain should opt to bat first and chase 360+. This venue typically rewards big first-innings totals.

As for the weather, Dharamsala in mid-June stays warm with mountain breezes and temperatures around 22-28°C during the day. Light cloud cover plus the occasional mountain shower could play a small role.

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head in ODIs

India hold a dominant 3-0 head-to-head record over Afghanistan in ODIs, with the only blemish being a tied fixture from a previous Asia Cup.

India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI
Source – CricTracker
DetailsInformation
Matches Played4
Won by India3
Won by Afghanistan0
Tied / No Result1
First-Ever FixtureMarch 5, 2014 (India won)
Most Recent FixtureOctober 11, 2023 (India won, 2023 World Cup)

Notably, Afghanistan have never beaten India in an ODI, which is a streak the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side will be desperate to end on Indian soil. Therefore, history hangs heavily over this contest.

IND vs AFG Predicted Playing XIs

Here are the Predicted Playing XI of both Teams:

India (IND)

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.

Note: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Virat Kohli are all unavailable for this fixture. Rohit Sharma returns after a hamstring injury and will open with Gill.

Afghanistan (AFG)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Saleem, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur Rahman.

IND vs AFG Probable Best Performers

Here are best Probable Performers from both Teams:

Probable Best Batter: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma returns from a hamstring injury just in time for this series and walks straight into the opener’s slot alongside captain Gill.

Moreover, India look depleted without Virat Kohli in the middle order, so Rohit’s experience becomes that much more vital. Consequently, an early Rohit wicket becomes Afghanistan’s biggest priority of the morning.

Probable Best Bowler: Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan missed the one-off Test but joins the white-ball squad as Afghanistan’s trump card on Indian soil.

Additionally, the leg-spinner enjoyed a strong IPL 2026 campaign across Indian conditions. Although Dharamsala doesn’t typically reward spin, Rashid’s skills can still trouble any batting line-up. Therefore, his middle-overs spell against Shreyas Iyer becomes a key contest.

Afghanistan X-Factor: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz walks in as Afghanistan’s most destructive top-order weapon and could shred India’s depleted new-ball attack inside the powerplay.

Furthermore, the right-hander has the range to clear the rope from ball one, which becomes especially dangerous on Dharamsala’s small dimensions. As a result, a Gurbaz half-century inside 30 balls represents Afghanistan’s clearest upset path.

IND vs AFG Top Player Bets

The following value-led markets going into the Dharamsala opener, based on form and venue analysis.

AspectSelectionReasoning
Top India BatterRohit SharmaReturning star opener; experience key on small venue
Top Afghanistan BatterRahmanullah GurbazMost destructive AFG top-order weapon
Top Wicket-TakerKuldeep YadavLeads IND spin in absence of Bumrah and Siraj
Match Total RunsOver 680.5HPCA par projection 360-380 plus AFG batting depth

Note: Odds vary across platforms and shift through the day. Always check the live price on your provider of choice before placing any wager.

Suggested Reads:

IND vs AFG 1st ODI Prediction

India look favourites to take the opener at 65% win probability, largely because their batting depth plus home conditions outweigh recent ODI form concerns.

Projected scores point to a high-scoring contest. India look set for 370-390 batting first (powerplay 70-90), while Afghanistan could push 310-330 if they bat first.

Rohit’s return plus Kuldeep Yadav’s wicket-taking value tilt the scales firmly toward the hosts. However, Afghanistan are unbeaten across their last five ODIs and arrive with genuine belief. A Gurbaz blitz could rewrite this script entirely.

Disclaimer: Predictions and betting tips rely on form, conditions, and recent results. Cricket betting carries financial risk; only play with funds you can afford to lose, and stick to legal platforms in your jurisdiction.

About the Author

Shreya Patil is a Mumbai-based documentary photographer turned cricket storyteller. Having covered local leagues through her lens, she now writes feature pieces at WPLeague, capturing the human side of women’s cricket beyond the boundary ropes.

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