🏏India vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI, AFG tour of India 2026, Dharamsala🏏

🏏India vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI, Afghanistan tour of India 2026, Dharamsala🏏

Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI, which promises to be a bit of a tense and exciting encounter between two fairly strong teams. India will be looking to start the series with a win, while Afghanistan will be trying to pull off an upset against one of the toughest squads in world cricket. Since there are multiple star players involved, this opening ODI is expected to bring in millions of viewers worldwide, like really a lot.

The first one-day international between India and Afghanistan signals the start of a meaningful series for both sides. India will try to tighten its squad balance and combinations, while Afghanistan will aim to keep climbing in international cricket.

Both teams have showed, some really impressive work in the last few years. India remains one of the strongest ODI sides, while Afghanistan has become a rather dangerous rival who can beat the top outfits.

Match Details

Match India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI

Format One Day International (ODI)

Date 13 June 2026

Venue To be announced

Time According to the official schedule

India walks into the series with a well balanced squad, mixing experienced stars alongside promising youngsters. Their batting order is basically one of the strongest in the world, and in the bowling department they have both quicks and spin variations, which can be used at different moments.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, has grown into a strong contender in ODI cricket. Their spin unit has been repeatedly causing problems for elite teams, and their batting group has gotten better year by year.

So, the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI might end up being more competitive than many people are expecting.

India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: India Probable Playing XI

India is likely to field a pretty strong lineup in the opening ODI , at least that is what it looks like on paper.

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav

Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi

With this XI you get batting that feels steady and you also see a lot of bowling variety, which is always handy early on

Key players to watch--

Rohit Sharma

Indian captain Rohit Sharma can dominate bowling attacks with this aggressive kind of approach. A good start from Rohit could set the platform for a massive total, if he gets going early.

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s biggest weapon stays Rashid Khan. His knack to bag wickets in the middle overs makes him a match winner, genuinely.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Gurbaz has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s most explosive batters . He can change the course of the game with an attacking style.

Jasprit Bumrah

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will play a crucial role with the new ball and also during the death overs.

Head-to-Head Record

India has traditionally dominated Afghanistan in ODI cricket. But Afghanistan has kept improving and has challenged several top sides in recent years

ODI Head-to-Head

• Matches Played: 5
• India Wins: 4
• Afghanistan Wins: 0
• No Result/Tie: 1

Even if India has the upper hand, Afghanistan has shown it can compete, when facing stronger opponents.

Pitch Report

The pitch for the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI is expected to help batsmen a bit during the early stages . The fast bowlers can get some movement when the new ball comes into play, and the spinners are likely to grow more impactful as the game drifts along.

Teams that win the toss may lean toward batting first, then try to post a strong total on the scoreboard.

Average First Innings Score

In ODI matches at similar venues, the average first innings total is usually in the range of 260 to 300 runs.

Weather Report

Weather looks encouraging for cricket. Rain chances appear low, so fans should get a complete 50-over showdown.

Temperatures should stay moderate, with bright skies, giving players very workable conditions.

Strengths of Team India

Powerful Batting Lineup

In addition, India possesses world-class batters like Rohit Sharma, Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, which significantly enhances its batting depth.

Experienced Pace Attack

India owns a highly dangerous pace unit.

All Round Depth

Players like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja give the side a more complete balance, you know, in real cricket terms.

Strengths of Afghanistan

Spin Bowling Attack

Furthermore, Rashid Khan with Noor Ahmad, can end up troubling even the most accomplished batsmen in the world, for real.

Fearless Batting

Also , Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have shown, that they can score at a brisk pace and even more important keep that attacking attitude up . In other words, they’re not just striking quickly, they’re staying with it and that steady pressure matters.

Team Spirit

Afghanistan keeps showing time after time that it can take on stronger teams with determination, and a proper sense of discipline.

Match Prediction

India will enter the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI as the favorite because of experience, and also because the squad depth looks stronger. Still , Afghanistan owns enough skill to upset the hosts.

The India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI looks like it will bring fast excitement and a lot of lasting scenes. India begins as the favorite, but Afghanistan still has enough hitting options to keep the battle alive.

With seasoned players, newer prospects, and loud supporters backing them, the first ODI should turn into a proper, high standard contest. Cricket fans worldwide will be watching closely, both sides start the series with ambitions, hoping to grab a crucial victory.

After a thumping win in the one-off Test match in Mullanpur, the Shubman Gill-led Team India will kick off the second leg of Afghanistan’s tour with the first of the three-match ODI series set to take place on Saturday, June 13, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

The series will be crucial for the home side, who are still going through the process of transition with skipper Gill at the helm. The challenge grows even bigger with in-form Virat Kohli sidelined from the series due to injury.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has included some fresh faces in the 15-member squad for the Afghanistan series, and they will have a chance to prove their selection and make a statement for long-term placement in the squad with a similar type of outing Manav Suthar pulled off for the Men in Blue in the Test match.

Pressure on skipper Gill

Skipper Shubman Gill will also be under some pressure to win his first ODI series since becoming the full-time captain of the Men in Blue in the format.

Gill’s first assignment as India’s full-time ODI skipper was back in October 2025, when he lost a three-match series to Australia 1-2. With the ODI World Cup 2027 approaching fast, Gill would be a little desperate to prove himself as the leader capable of ending India’s 15-year-long wait for ODI World Cup glory.

Big setback for the hosts

India suffered a huge setback ahead of the series as their star batter Virat Kohli was ruled out of the Afghanistan ODIs due to a hamstring injury.

Kohli has been in brilliant form with the bat in 50-over cricket, with 616 runs to his name in the last seven ODI matches at an average of 123.20, with the help of three half-centuries and three centuries.

The BCCI has announced Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a brilliant 116 not out vs Afghanistan in his last ODI appearance for India, as the replacement for Virat Kohli.