Fresh from a dominant victory in the one-off Test, India will now shift their focus to the ODI format as they take on Afghanistan in the opening match of the three-game series on Saturday, June 13. The encounter will be held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
The hosts enter the series with a relatively inexperienced squad under the leadership of Shubman Gill. India have been dealt significant setbacks ahead of the ODI leg, with both Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya ruled out due to injuries. However, the return of Rohit Sharma provides a major boost as the Men in Blue begin their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, continue to grow as a force in white-ball cricket. Led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, the visitors possess a strong batting lineup featuring Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah, while their spin attack remains one of the most dangerous in world cricket. Having never defeated India in ODI cricket, Afghanistan will view this series as a golden opportunity to script history.
IND vs AFG, 1st ODI: Match Details
- Date and Time: June 13, 1:30 PM IST / 8:00 AM GMT
- Venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
Matches Played: 4 | India Won: 3 | Afghanistan Won: 0 | Tied: 1
HPCA Stadium Pitch Report
The Dharamsala surface has traditionally offered assistance to fast bowlers, particularly during the opening overs when there is movement through the air and off the pitch. The venue’s high altitude and cool conditions often make life difficult for batters early in the innings. However, once set, batters can score freely on this ground.
The outfield is quick and the ball comes nicely onto the bat, making strokeplay easier as the innings progresses. The venue has also witnessed several high-scoring ODI contests over the years, including a run-fest during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Teams chasing have enjoyed considerable success at this venue, although captains may still be tempted to bowl first and exploit the early assistance available for seamers. A first-innings score in the range of 280-320 could prove highly competitive.
Squads
India: Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem
IND vs AFG, 1st ODI, Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- India wins the toss and bowls first
- Afghanistan’s powerplay score: 45-55
- Afghanistan’s total score: 250-270
Case 2:
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bowls first
- India’s powerplay score: 55-65
- India’s total score: 290-320
Match Result: Team batting first to win the contest.
