The Indian cricket team has reached New Chandigarh for their upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. Led by Captain Shubman Gill, the squad is gearing up for the match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. This Test marks India’s return to red-ball cricket post the conclusion of the IPL 2026.
Preparations are in full swing as the team hotel welcomed the Indian squad ahead of the Test scheduled at the PCA New Chandigarh Stadium starting from June 6. Alongside Captain Gill, Vice-Captain KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Nitish Kumar Reddy were among the players seen with the team.
India’s upcoming Test against Afghanistan holds significance as it will be their first Test appearance since the home series loss to South Africa last year. Although not part of the World Test Championship cycle, this match is crucial for India as they prepare for future overseas tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
The Indian team, comprising a mix of experienced players and young talent, aims to use this fixture to regain momentum in Test cricket. Training sessions are set to commence soon as the team fine-tunes its preparations for the challenging encounter.
For Afghanistan, this match offers a valuable opportunity to test their skills against one of the top Test sides globally. Having gained experience in the format, the visitors are eager to showcase a competitive performance against the Indian team.
The historic encounter between India and Afghanistan will be a significant moment, as the two sides meet in red-ball cricket for the first time since their maiden Test clash in 2018. India emerged victorious in that match, asserting dominance with an innings win within two days.
