Shubman Gill's India host Afghanistan in historic New Chandigarh Test from June 6
Synopsis
Less than a week after IPL 2026 ended, Shubman Gill's India pivot to red-ball cricket against Afghanistan at a brand-new Test venue in New Chandigarh. With Ashwin retired, Jadeja rested, eight IPL finalists in the squad, Pant chasing his 50th cap, and Rahmat Shah 30 runs from 1,000 Test runs, this 'non-WTC' Test is packed with storylines that matter.
Key Takeaways
India vs Afghanistan one-off Test begins 6 June at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh — the venue's first-ever Test and India's 31st men's Test ground .
Rishabh Pant is set to play his 50th Test , joining MS Dhoni and Syed Kirmani as India's most-capped Test wicketkeepers.
India play without both Ravindra Jadeja (rested) and Ravichandran Ashwin (retired) — the first time since 2010 both are absent in a home Test.
Rahmat Shah needs just 30 runs to become the first Afghanistan batter to reach 1,000 Test runs .
Eight IPL 2026 finalists are in the squad, giving India minimal transition time from white-ball to red-ball cricket.
Pitch expected to favour spinners as 40°C June heat draws moisture from the black-soil surface.
Shubman Gill's India return to red-ball cricket on Saturday, 6 June, hosting Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh — a venue making its Test debut as the 31st ground to host a men's Test in India. The match begins at 9:30 am IST, less than a week after the curtain fell on IPL 2026.
India's Red-Ball Reset
The transition from franchise cricket to the longest format is the central challenge for this Indian squad. Eight players from the 15-man side featured in the IPL 2026 final, leaving minimal time to recalibrate for the patience and discipline Test cricket demands. This is also India's first Test since their series against South Africa in November 2024.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir was unequivocal about the team's intent despite the match sitting outside the World Test Championship cycle. 'A Test match is a Test match. I know people say this isn't part of the World Test Championship, but for me, it is a Test match. We need to win for the country because you don't differentiate between Test matches, whether they are part of the World Test Championship or not. That is why we will try to field our full-strength side for this Test,' Gambhir said.
Key Absences and Milestones
India will take the field without veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been rested, and with Ravichandran Ashwin now retired. It marks the first time since 2010 that India play a home Test without either stalwart. The spin workload will fall heavily on Kuldeep Yadav, who took just 10 wickets in 12 IPL matches but has reportedly used the break to sharpen his red-ball skills.
The match carries a personal milestone for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is set to play his 50th Test. Only MS Dhoni and Syed Kirmani have represented India in more Tests as wicketkeepers. Team management has also confirmed that Sai Sudharsan retains the critical No. 3 position, signalling long-term intent.
Afghanistan's Evolving Challenge
Afghanistan arrive with a point to prove. In their first Test against India — played in Bengaluru in 2018 — they were beaten inside two days by an innings. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi believes his side is considerably better prepared this time, even without star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who is absent from the squad.
The visitors lean on an experienced core. Rahmat Shah, Afghanistan's leading Test run-scorer with records for centuries and fifty-plus scores in the format, needs just 30 runs to become the first Afghanistan batter to cross 1,000 Test runs — a landmark that adds an extra layer of narrative to this contest.
Pitch, Conditions and What to Expect
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus offered a candid read of the surface. 'This is a new stadium, it is a new wicket. I think the Indian coaching staff will be as curious to see how the wicket plays as we are. It looks like a good cricket wicket, but I have no doubt the heat will pull moisture out quickly. It has a solid covering of grass, but will it hold together? Spinners will play a major role in the game, even though it looks pretty green at the moment,' Pybus said.
The black-soil surface is expected to assist batters early, but June temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius could accelerate the pitch's deterioration, making spin increasingly potent as the match progresses. Endurance under the heat will be as decisive as technique.
Squads and Where to Watch
India: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Dhruv Jurel, Harsh Dubey.
Afghanistan: Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Afsar Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Qais Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman.
The match is live on JioStar and the Star Sports Network. With a historic venue, a milestone-laden squad, and an Afghanistan side hungry for respect, this one-off Test carries weight well beyond its WTC status.
Point of View
With a captain still establishing his authority and a spin attack missing two of its most reliable names. Gambhir is right to resist the hierarchy — but the real question is whether eight IPL finalists can genuinely switch gears in under a week, or whether the first two days will look like a white-ball hangover. For Afghanistan, the absence of Rashid Khan is significant, but Rahmat Shah's proximity to 1,000 Test runs is a reminder that this is no longer the side that folded in Bengaluru inside two days. The New Chandigarh pitch is the wild card: a new black-soil surface in peak summer heat is an unknown for both coaching staffs, and that uncertainty alone makes this match harder to script than most home Tests.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the India vs Afghanistan Test 2026?
The one-off Test between India and Afghanistan begins on Saturday, 6 June 2026, at 9:30 am IST at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. It is the venue's first-ever Test match and the 31st ground to host a men's Test in India.
Why is this Test not part of the World Test Championship?
The India vs Afghanistan one-off Test in 2026 falls outside the current World Test Championship cycle, meaning results will not affect either team's WTC standings. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that India will treat it with the same seriousness as any WTC fixture.
What milestone is Rishabh Pant set to achieve in this Test?
Rishabh Pant is set to play his 50th Test match, making him only the third Indian wicketkeeper after MS Dhoni and Syed Kirmani to reach that landmark in the format.
Why are Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin not playing?
Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket earlier in the 2024-25 season, while Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for this match. Their combined absence means India play a home Test without both stalwarts for the first time since 2010.
How close is Rahmat Shah to 1,000 Test runs for Afghanistan?
Rahmat Shah, Afghanistan's leading Test run-scorer, needs just 30 runs in this match to become the first Afghanistan batter to reach 1,000 Test runs — a milestone that would mark a significant step in Afghan cricket's growth in the format.
