The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially announced India’s next international assignment following the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Indian team will host Afghanistan in June for a one off Test match and a three match One Day International series, marking a return to red ball and 50 over cricket after an extended gap.
The announcement has drawn significant attention as former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to return to action in the ODI format. Both players have continued to feature prominently in limited overs cricket and their participation is expected to add experience and stability to the squad.
Shubman Gill will lead the team in the one off Test match against Afghanistan. The young batter has previously captained India in select fixtures and will be tasked with guiding the side in the longer format. The Test match will mark only the second time India and Afghanistan face each other in red ball cricket.
Afghanistan previously played their inaugural Test match against India in 2018 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. That historic match marked Afghanistan’s debut in Test cricket following their elevation to full member status by the International Cricket Council. The upcoming Test will therefore represent another milestone in bilateral cricket relations between the two nations.
The three match ODI series will also hold historical significance, as it will be the first bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan. While the teams have faced each other in multinational tournaments, a dedicated ODI series has not been conducted before. Afghanistan will be touring India for the third time as an away side.
Cricket analysts note that the ODI series will provide valuable preparation opportunities for both teams ahead of future international tournaments. For India, the matches offer a platform to assess combinations and bench strength while integrating senior players with emerging talent. For Afghanistan, playing a full series in Indian conditions is expected to enhance their competitive exposure.
The schedule and venues for the matches are expected to be announced in detail in the coming weeks. Fans are anticipating strong attendance given the presence of high profile players and the significance of the fixtures.
The series underscores the BCCI’s continued efforts to structure a balanced international calendar across formats. With the return of Test and ODI cricket, attention will shift to squad announcements, training camps and venue preparations in the lead up to June.
The confirmation of the fixtures marks an important step in India’s post T20 World Cup schedule, setting the stage for competitive action in the longer formats of the game.
