🏏 The India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026 opener is finally here, and it brings a strong home side against one of the most improved teams in white-ball cricket. According to BCCI’s official schedule, the first ODI has been rescheduled to 13 June 2026, will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala, and starts at 1:30 PM IST.
For fans, this is not just another bilateral game. It is a high-interest match with fresh squad updates, a full house atmosphere expected in Dharamshala, and a result that could depend on whether India’s batting depth can handle Afghanistan’s world-class spin attack. 🔥
India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026: Match time, venue and live coverage
The BCCI’s official schedule lists the match at 1:30 PM IST on Saturday, 13 June 2026, in Dharamshala. The same official BCCI match page also shows the fixture as the 1st ODI of the Afghanistan tour of India.
For live viewing, the match is listed on JioHotstar on the streaming side, while the BCCI footer on the official match page names Hotstar as the official broadcaster and JioCinema as the official digital streaming partner.
That means viewers have a clear place to follow the game, whether they are watching on mobile, laptop, or TV-style streaming apps. 📺
Full India squad
BCCI’s official update for the Afghanistan series named India’s ODI squad and later added that Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced the injured Virat Kohli in the ODI group. The original squad also had Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya marked as subject to fitness clearance.
India’s updated ODI squad for the series:
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rohit Sharma*
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain)
- KL Rahul (wicketkeeper)
- Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)
- Hardik Pandya*
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
- Prince Yadav
- Gurnoor Brar
- Harsh Dubey
India’s strength looks obvious on paper. They have a flexible top order, two wicketkeeper options, all-round balance, and enough spin and seam variety to attack different phases of the innings. If the home side settles early, Afghanistan will need a special bowling spell to stay in the contest. 🇮🇳
Full Afghanistan squad
Afghanistan’s official ODI squad for this India tour is built around proven names and a core that has been developing together for a while. The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s official squad announcement for its white-ball ODI set-up listed the following players, and that same structure matches the profile of the side preparing for India.
Afghanistan’s ODI squad:
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)
- Rahmat Shah (vice-captain)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper)
- Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Nangyal Kharoti
- AM Ghazanfar
- Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
- Fareed Ahmad Malik
- Bilal Sami
This is a squad with a real ODI identity. Afghanistan bring stability at the top, quality spin in the middle overs, and batters who are far more confident than they were a few years ago. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi remain the headline names, but the team’s overall depth is what makes them dangerous. 🇦🇫
India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026: Predicted playing XI
These are the most likely XIs based on the official squads, role balance, and the conditions usually expected in Dharamshala. This is a preview call, not a confirmed team sheet.
Predicted India XI
- Shubman Gill
- Rohit Sharma
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Washington Sundar
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
Predicted Afghanistan XI
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi
- Sediqullah Atal
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Nangyal Kharoti
- Fareed Ahmad Malik
- Bilal Sami
Match takeaway: India look stronger on batting depth, while Afghanistan’s biggest edge is their spin power and the ability to slow the game down. If the pitch grips, Afghanistan can make this much tighter than expected. ✨
India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026: Key battles to watch
The first ODI has several mini-duels that could decide the result.
Shubman Gill vs Rashid Khan
Gill’s role at the top is to set the tone, but Rashid can change momentum in one over. If Gill dominates the leg-spinner, India gain control early.
Rohit Sharma vs Afghanistan’s new-ball attack
If Rohit gets through the first ten overs cleanly, India’s innings can accelerate fast. Afghanistan will need discipline and a few early dots to build pressure.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Arshdeep Singh
Gurbaz loves attacking from ball one. Arshdeep’s left-arm angle and movement make that contest especially interesting in the powerplay.
KL Rahul vs Mohammad Nabi
Rahul’s tempo in the middle overs could shape India’s total, while Nabi’s experience makes him Afghanistan’s smartest control option.
These battles make India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026 much more than a routine bilateral fixture.
India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026: Who is likely to win today?
India enter the match as favourites because of home conditions, stronger squad depth, and more ODI experience across the batting unit. Their bowling mix also looks well suited to a Dharamshala contest where early wickets can dictate the tone.
Afghanistan, however, are no longer just a dangerous underdog story. They have enough quality to trouble any side if their spinners find grip and their top order lasts through the powerplay. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi give them a real chance of forcing pressure moments.
Winning chances for today’s match:
- India: 70%
- Afghanistan: 30%
That is a preview-based call, not a guarantee. Cricket can turn fast, especially when Afghanistan’s spin attack gets into rhythm. 🏏
Final word on India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026
The India VS Afghanistan ODI 2026 opener has the ingredients for a lively sports story: an updated India squad, a strong Afghanistan lineup, a beautiful Dharamshala setting, and a prime-time ODI slot at 1:30 PM IST. BCCI’s official match page and squad releases make this one of the most straightforward but also most watchable match previews of the season.
For India, the target is simple: start the series with control. For Afghanistan, the aim is to upset the script and show once again that they belong in high-pressure ODI cricket. Either way, this is a match worth following from the first over. 🔥
Read Also: India vs Afghanistan 2026 Schedule
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