The excitement is building as India and Afghanistan gear up for the 1st ODI of the three-match series at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on June 13, 2026. This Day-Night clash (starting at 1:30 PM IST) marks the beginning of India’s white-ball campaign post the Test series and serves as crucial preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Match Details
- Teams: India vs Afghanistan (1st ODI)
- Venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
- Date & Time: Saturday, June 13, 2026 | 1:30 PM IST
- Format: 50-over (Day-Night)
- Series: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 (3 ODIs)
Pitch & Weather Report
Dharamsala’s high-altitude venue is known for its fast and bouncy pitches that offer excellent assistance to pacers early on, while spinners come into play as the ball gets older. The average first innings score hovers around 250-280, but batting second under lights can be tricky due to dew and variable bounce. Expect seam movement and pace to dominate initially.
Weather is likely to be pleasant with a chance of clear skies, though mountain showers can never be ruled out. Teams winning the toss might prefer to chase or bowl first to exploit early conditions.
India Squad & Predicted Playing XI
India ODI Squad (Key names): Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Rohit Sharma*, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli (injured, replaced), Hardik Pandya (fitness permitting), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
Predicted Playing XI:
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Rohit Sharma
- Ishan Kishan / KL Rahul (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (vc)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna / Gurnoor Brar
- Harsh Dubey / Prince Yadav
Key Focus for India:
- Rohit Sharma’s Return: The Hitman is back and raring to go at the top. His experience alongside Gill will be lethal.
- Pacers’ Firepower: With Arshdeep, Prasidh, and potential debutants like Gurnoor Brar/Prince Yadav, India’s seam attack looks formidable on this bouncy track.
- Spin Options: Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar provide balance.
Afghanistan Squad & Strengths
Key Players: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah, Bilal Sami, Fareed Malik, etc.
Afghanistan will rely heavily on Rashid Khan’s magic with the ball and explosive batting from openers like Gurbaz. Their pace unit (Bilal Sami, Fareed) has improved, but they face a tough challenge against India’s depth.
Challenges for AFG: Missing some experience and facing India’s home dominance.
Head-to-Head & Prediction
India have dominated recent encounters against Afghanistan. In ODIs, the Men in Blue hold a strong record, often chasing or defending totals comfortably.
Expert Prediction: India are firm favorites to win the 1st ODI, given home conditions, squad depth, and momentum. However, Afghanistan can spring surprises with Rashid’s wrist-spin and batting firepower on any given day.
Key Battles to Watch:
- Gill & Rohit vs Rashid Khan
- India’s pacers vs Afghanistan’s top order
- Shreyas Iyer’s middle-order stability
How to Watch Live
- TV: Star Sports / JioHotstar
- Streaming: JioHotstar (Hotstar app)
Stay tuned to DD Sports TV for live updates, match highlights, player stats, and post-match analysis!
Who do you think will shine in Dharamsala? Drop your predictions in the comments below. Let’s cheer for Team India! 🇮🇳🔥
