India vs Afghanistan Test 2026: The Wait Ends Tomorrow in Mullanpur

The only Test between India and Afghanistan in 2026 begins tomorrow at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Shubman Gill leads India into this five-day contest as the full-time Test captain. Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, arrives with the goal of making their mark on Indian soil.

This marks the first Test match ever staged at the new Mullanpur venue. Tickets started at just ₹250. Fans across Punjab and beyond have already shown strong interest. The atmosphere promises to be electric from the first ball on June 6.

Match Details at a Glance

Format: One-off Test (5 days)
Dates: June 6–10, 2026
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh
Start Time: 9:30 AM local (4:00 AM GMT)
India Captain: Shubman Gill
Afghanistan Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi

Live ball-by-ball commentary, full scorecard, and highlights will appear here once play starts. No result exists yet because the match has not begun.

India Squad and Probable Playing XI

India named a strong 15-man squad on May 19, 2026. Several uncapped players earned maiden call-ups, adding fresh energy to the group. Gill returns to lead after recovering from a neck issue that kept him out of India’s last Test in late 2025.

Position	Player	Role
1	Yashasvi Jaiswal	Opener
2	KL Rahul (vc)	Top order
3	Sai Sudharsan	Middle order
4	Shubman Gill (c)	Captain / Top order
5	Rishabh Pant (wk)	Wicketkeeper / Middle order
6	Washington Sundar	All-rounder
7	Nitish Kumar Reddy	All-rounder
8	Harsh Dubey	All-rounder
9	Kuldeep Yadav	Spinner
10	Mohammed Siraj	Pacer
11	Prasidh Krishna	Pacer

The bench includes Devdutt Padikkal, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, and Dhruv Jurel. This blend of experience and youth gives Gill plenty of options on what could be a wearing pitch by day four and five.

Afghanistan’s Challenge

Afghanistan enters this contest as underdogs but carries real threats. Their spinners have troubled stronger sides in recent years. All-rounders like Azmatullah Omarzai and the experienced Rahmat Shah add balance. Hashmatullah Shahidi will look to his bowlers to exploit any early movement and then use spin heavily as the match progresses.

The visitors know that a competitive showing here can boost their World Test Championship standing and confidence ahead of future tours.

What Makes This Match Special

You could sense the excitement building in the days leading up to the game. Local fans in Punjab finally get a home Test on their doorstep. The new stadium offers modern facilities and a pitch that groundsmen have prepared with care. Early reports suggest it should offer something for both batters and bowlers across five days.

For Gill, this represents his first home Test in charge. The 26-year-old has already shown calm leadership in away conditions. Now he gets to set the tone on Indian soil with a young squad hungry to perform.

Behind the scenes, the uncapped trio of Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar, and Gurnoor Brar trained with extra intensity in the nets. Their families and local supporters will watch closely as these domestic performers step onto the biggest stage.

Key Battles to Watch

• Gill vs Afghanistan’s new-ball attack: Early swing or seam movement could test the Indian top order.
• Indian spinners vs Afghanistan middle order: Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar will look to exploit any turn from day three onward.
• Rishabh Pant’s impact: The wicketkeeper-batter often changes games with aggressive counter-attacking.
• Afghanistan’s spin threat: Their slow bowlers will target India’s lower middle order on a wearing surface.

Weather looks favorable for the most part, though June in the region can bring occasional heat and humidity that tests fitness over five days.

Live Scorecard and Updates

Full scorecard, fall of wickets, and live updates will be published here starting from the toss on June 6. Ball-by-ball commentary will run throughout each day’s play. Bookmark this page for the latest as India and Afghanistan battle it out in Mullanpur.

Until then, the focus stays on preparation, strategy, and the simple thrill of Test cricket returning to a brand-new Indian venue.