India vs Afghanistan: Soon after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, Team India will host Afghanistan in a multi-format series.

The schedule revealed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (March 02) includes a one-off Test and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in June 2026.

With Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli likely to feature against the Afghans in the ODI series, this could serve as a preparatory phase for the Indians ahead of the World Cup 2027.

Afghanistan Multi-Format Tour of India 2026

Team India will kickstart with the one-off test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Subsequently, there would be a 3-match ODI series scheduled the same month in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.

Notably, the MYSIC Stadium (also known as the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium) in Mullanpur will host its maiden test match between India and Afghanistan.

Will the Afghanistan Test Series Be Part of WTC 2025-27?

Afghanistan isn’t one among those nine teams that are currently part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.

Despite gaining test cricket status, there was no specific reason mentioned behind the Afghans’ exclusion since the inaugural WTC cycle in 2019.

Some main reasons could be their limited experience, irregular schedule, and inconsistency in the red-ball format having won only 4 out of 12 test matches, including a draw against Afghanistan. Perhaps their lackluster performance has ruled them out of the WTC structure. 

Head-to-Head of India vs Afghanistan in Test Cricket

Afghanistan featured in its last test against India back in 2018 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This was the only instance where these two teams faced off against each other in red-ball cricket.

The hosts under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy triumphed over the Afghans by an innings and 262 runs. This was one of the rarest games in test cricket history that concluded within 2 days, where the visitors’ innings concluded twice on the same day itself.

In 2017, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted Afghanistan its test status, and the match against India was their first appearance in the longest format.

Outcomes of India vs Afghanistan in ODI Cricket

So far, India and Afghanistan competed against each other in only 4 ODIs. Out of which, the Indians triumphed on 3 occasions, with one fixture concluded in a draw during the Asia Cup 2018 Super Four fixture. 

First Bilateral Series Between India and Afghanistan

For the first time, India and Afghanistan will face off against each other in a bilateral series. Earlier, the rivalry between these two teams in ODIs was limited to core events like the Asia Cup and the World Cup.

However, it is to be observed that there are no T20I fixtures in this series. This is because the 50-over matches can provide immense preparation for Team India before the World Cup.

Significance of India vs Afghanistan Series 2026

Soon after the completion of IPL 2026, India and Afghanistan are likely to rotate their players to manage the workload of veteran stars. So, this series could serve as a valuable chance for newbies and young talents to prove their skills.

Even though the IND vs AFG test series won’t be considered for the WTC, it ensures continuity in the red-ball format, particularly for India when they face off against tougher opponents later this year.

Moreover, Afghanistan will gain exposure playing test cricket against bigger opponents like India. Most importantly, the Afghans touring India for the multi-format series outlines their rising stature in international cricket.

Also, the PCA Stadium in Chandigarh, hosting its first-ever test cricket match, remains untested and adds unpredictability to the contest.

Final Opinion

Following Afghanistan’s group stage exit in the T20 World Cup 2026, Richard Pybus has been as the new head coach, replacing Jonathan Trott.

Afghans have proven ability to give tough challenges to top-ranked teams, and they cannot be underestimated easily.

Overall, the forthcoming bilateral series between India and Afghanistan provides an opportunity for both teams to test their competency across the key formats of international cricket.