India vs Afghanistan Test 2026: Live Streaming, TV Channel, Match Time and Venue
India face Afghanistan in a historic one-off Test at Mullanpur. Check match timing, venue, live streaming and TV broadcast details here.
June 06, 2026: India will return to Test cricket after a lengthy break when they take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test beginning on Saturday at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. While the match carries significance in India's World Test Championship campaign, it also offers Shubman Gill and his team a valuable opportunity to gain experience as Indian cricket continues its transition following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and several other senior players.
The fixture will also mark a historic occasion as Mullanpur becomes the 31st venue in India to host a men's Test match. It will be India's first appearance in the longest format since their Test series against South Africa in November.
India Looks to Build Momentum Under Gill's Leadership
India enters the contest with a relatively young squad as head coach Gautam Gambhir continues to shape the team's future. The match presents another important leadership test for captain Shubman Gill, who will be eager to make a strong impression while leading India at his home ground.
Preparation has not been ideal for several squad members. Eight players from the 15-man group featured in the IPL final, leaving limited time to switch from the fast-paced demands of T20 cricket to the patience and discipline required in Test cricket.
All set to resume the journey in whites πͺ
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β° 9.30 AM IST
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With Ravindra Jadeja rested and Ashwin retired, opportunities have opened up for emerging talents to establish themselves in the red-ball setup. Players such as Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, and Manav Suthar will be keen to make their mark if given the opportunity.
Afghanistan aims to Show Their Growth in Test Cricket
Afghanistan arrive with the ambition of proving how far they have progressed since their first-ever Test against India in Bengaluru in 2018. On that occasion, they suffered an innings defeat inside two days, but captain Hashmatullah Shahidi believes his side is far better prepared for the challenge this time around.
Although the visitors will be without star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, they still possess an experienced core featuring Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Afghanistan will be hoping their improved red-ball experience allows them to compete strongly against one of the world's leading Test sides.
IND vs AFG Match Details
- When: June 6 β June 10
- Where: New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Time: 9:30 AM IST
- Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
IND vs AFG Squads
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Bilal Sami, Qais Ahmed, Mohammed Saleem, Ziaur Rahman.