Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has described the upcoming one-off Test against India as the realisation of a long-held personal dream, calling it a special milestone in his red-ball career. Speaking ahead of the fixture in Chandigarh on 6 June, Gurbaz said the opportunity to compete in the longest format on Indian soil is something he has imagined since watching Afghanistan's earliest Test appearances from the sidelines.

Gurbaz on the personal significance

'I feel amazing. I remember the first Test which I was not part of the test match and I was watching on the TV. Yeah, it just was a dream to play against India in India in Test cricket. Finally, I'm here. Very excited for this game,' Gurbaz said.

The wicketkeeper-batter was not part of Afghanistan's debut Test appearance and watched it on television, making this fixture all the more meaningful for him personally. His enthusiasm reflects a broader sense of occasion within the Afghan camp as they prepare for one of the most high-profile assignments in their short Test history.

Preparation and camp ahead of the Test

Afghanistan have invested heavily in red-ball preparation ahead of this fixture. According to Gurbaz, the squad spent more than one and a half months training in Afghanistan before travelling to India, where they also completed practice sessions in Chandigarh.

'From the last one and a half months, we were practicing in Afghanistan and then we came here early a little bit and then we had a good practice session here in Chandigarh as well that I think we are very well prepared and looking for a good game,' he said.

The extended preparation window signals how seriously Afghanistan are approaching this contest, even as they acknowledge the gulf in Test experience between the two sides.

Acknowledging the experience gap

Gurbaz was candid about Afghanistan's relative inexperience in Test cricket, noting that the format demands a depth of red-ball exposure that his side is still building. Despite this, he was emphatic that the squad is mentally and physically ready to compete.

'It's a learning for us. We are not that well experienced in Test cricket, which I think in Test cricket, you really need experience and test experience, actually. I think it's a good learning for us,' he said.

He added: 'I think mentally, physically, we are well prepared and the way we practiced and the way the boys are ready, I think we are very ready to fight... it's a new challenge for me, but as a cricketer, I don't need to make excuses and I'm well prepared to play a good cricket.'

Notably, Afghanistan have risen sharply in white-ball cricket over the past decade, but their Test appearances remain limited, making every fixture in the format a critical step in building institutional knowledge.

New coach Richard Pybus in his first assignment

The match also marks the beginning of head coach Richard Pybus's tenure with Afghanistan, with this India tour serving as his first assignment in charge. Gurbaz praised the experienced coach warmly, highlighting both his personality and his depth of cricketing knowledge.

'He's such a nice man. He's an encouraged guy and I think he's a very well supporter for all of us. It's our first tour with him and hopefully we keep continuing the good memories which we had before. And yeah, his knowledge is more than our age. I think we are lucky to have a coach like him,' Gurbaz said.

With a new coaching staff, a well-prepared squad, and a highly motivated set of players, Afghanistan will be looking to make a statement when the two sides meet in what promises to be a landmark occasion for Afghan Test cricket.