India vs Afghanistan (Source - Surjeet Yadav/Getty Image)

After the one-off Test went in favour of the hosts, India (IND) and Afghanistan (AFG) have shifted their focus to one-day cricket, with the first ODI of the three-match series set to be held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday, June 13. 

India have shown some pathetic performance in the last five ODIs played, winning only one. With the 2027 World Cup approaching fast, this series will give them an excellent opportunity to overcome their fallacies and make a balanced squad. A relatively inexperienced pace attack will be leading the charge as both Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested. Shubman Gill will look to play his cards smartly.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have been in excellent touch in the format of late. They have remained unbeaten in their last five ODIs, although past glory doesn't guarantee future success. The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side will also be hoping to prove their mettle on Indian soil and get hands-on experience of playing here, as it is set to be their home for the next few years.

IND vs AFG: Match Details

Match	India vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI, Afghanistan tour of India, 2026
Date and Time (IST)	Saturday, June 13, 1:30 PM
Venue	Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Broadcast and Live Streaming	JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website)

HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala: Pitch Report

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala has generally offered a belter of a track to bat on, especially in the first innings. Finding runs here isn't a task, which is complimented by the smaller boundary dimensions and a blazing-fast outfield. The bounce here, though, is ample, which brings a lot of fast bowlers into play. For any team winning the toss here, they should be looking to bat first and post a total in the excess of the 360-380 range.

IND vs AFG: Head-to-Head ODI Record

Matches Played	04
Won by IND	03
Won by AFG	00
Tied / No Results	01
First-ever Fixture	March 05, 2014 (IND Won)
Most Recent Fixture	October 11, 2023 (IND Won)

IND vs AFG: Predicted Playing XIs India

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Saleem, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur Rahman

IND vs AFG: Probable Best Performers of the Match Probable Best Batter: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has recovered from his hamstring injury just in time and will now be aiming to make every opportunity count. He will be opening alongside skipper Shubman Gill and will look to provide a solid start. The Men in Blue are a little depleted with the absence of Virat Kohli in their batting unit, and thus, the experience of Rohit will be key to their chances in the upcoming first match of the series.

Probable Best Bowler: Rashid Khan Rashid Khan (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

Rashid Khan did not take part in the Test match, but he has joined his countrymen ahead of the white-ball leg of the tour. The seasoned campaigner has been having a good time in India, with a decent performance throughout the Indian Premier League 2026. Although the conditions in Dharamsala might not be as favourable for spinners, the skills of Rashid are enough to come good against any batting attack.

Today's Match Prediction: India to win the match