New Delhi, Mar 3: Afghanistan will kick off their upcoming tour of India with a one-off Test match, followed by three one-day internationals in June, the BCCI said on Monday.
“Afghanistan will play one Test match followed by a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The Test match will be played in New Chandigarh from June 6 to June 10, 2026,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a release.
The Test match however is not a part of India’s World Test Championship cycle. It is understood that now the white ball focus will shift towards 50 over cricket looking at 2027 World Cup and hence three ODIs have been arranged.
“The ODI series will commence on June 14, 2026, in Dharamshala, with the subsequent matches scheduled in Lucknow (June 17) and Chennai (June 20). All ODI matches will begin at 1:30 PM IST..
The matches for the IDFC First Bank Afghanistan Tour of India are.
Test: New Chandigarh, June 6-10.
1st ODI: Dharamshala, June 14, 1:30 pm
2nd ODI: Lucknow, June 17, 1:30 pm.
3rd ODI: Chennai, June 20, 1:30 pm. PTI
Though the solitary Test in New Chandigarh will not count towards the World Test Championship standings, it offers both sides a valuable window to recalibrate and experiment without the weight of points and permutations. For India, the subsequent shift to a three-match ODI series signals the beginning of a longer, carefully mapped journey towards the 2027 World Cup — a phase where combinations will be tested, bench strength assessed and roles defined with clarity. Afghanistan, meanwhile, continue to grow in stature with every high-profile assignment, and a full tour on Indian soil provides them exposure, challenge and opportunity in equal measure.
Across New Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Lucknow and Chennai, the series promises competitive cricket, tactical fine-tuning and perhaps the unveiling of new faces who could shape the next chapter of white-ball battles. As June approaches, the focus will not merely be on results, but on preparation, progression and purpose.
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