Afghanistan’s tour of India 2026: India is set to welcome Afghanistan for a short but significant bilateral series in June, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirming the full itinerary for Afghanistan’s tour of India 2026. The series will feature one Test match followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), running from June 6 to June 20.
The tour will begin shortly after the conclusion of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), ensuring the availability of India’s top international stars. According to the official schedule released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the opening Test will be staged in Mullanpur, with the ODI leg spread across Dharamshala, Lucknow and Chennai.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) March 2, 2026
Here's a look at the schedule for Afghanistan Men’s Team’s tour of India in June 2026 🗓️
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Full Schedule: Afghanistan’s Tour of India 2026
Below is the confirmed match schedule:
| Match | Venue | Date | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Match | Mullanpur | 6 June | 9:30 AM |
| 1st ODI | Dharamshala | 14 June | 1:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | Lucknow | 17 June | 1:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | Chennai | 20 June | 1:30 PM |
Test Match to Begin at Mullanpur
The lone Test of Afghanistan’s tour of India 2026 will be held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium from June 6 to June 10. The venue, one of India’s newer international grounds, will host what promises to be an important red-ball contest for both sides.
This Test carries historical weight, given that Afghanistan began their journey in Test cricket against India back in 2018. That inaugural Test took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where India secured a commanding innings-and-262-run victory. Since then, Afghanistan have grown steadily in the longer format.
To date, Afghanistan have played 13 Test matches, winning four, losing seven and drawing two-a respectable return for a relatively young Test-playing nation.
ODI Series Across Three Major Venues
Following the Test, the focus will shift to white-ball cricket.
The first ODI is scheduled for June 14 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. Known for its picturesque Himalayan backdrop, the venue has often produced competitive limited-overs matches.
The second ODI will be played on June 17 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The pitch here typically offers a balanced contest between bat and ball.
The third and final ODI will take place on June 20 at the iconic M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as Chepauk. All three ODIs are set to begin at 1:30 PM IST.
Notably, this will be the first-ever bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan. Previous ODI meetings between the two sides have only occurred in multi-nation tournaments.
Head-to-Head Record: India vs Afghanistan
ODI Record
| Tournament | Matches | India Wins | Afghanistan Wins | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 Tie |
| ODI World Cup | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Total | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 Tie |
Afghanistan are yet to defeat India in ODIs. One memorable tie came during the 2018 Asia Cup, but India have otherwise maintained dominance, including victories in the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups.
T20 International Record
In T20 Internationals, the two teams have faced off nine times. India have won eight matches, while one encounter at the Asian Games ended without a decisive result. Their only bilateral T20I series took place in 2024, which India swept 3-0.
Current Form: Contrasting Fortunes
India head into Afghanistan’s tour of India 2026 with confidence. The team is currently competing in the ICC T20 World Cup at home and recently sealed a Super 8 victory over West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals. India are set to face England at the Wankhede Stadium on March 5. The tournament final will be played on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, endured a challenging T20 World Cup campaign. They failed to progress beyond the group stage after defeats to New Zealand and South Africa. Although they secured wins against UAE and Canada, it was not enough to reach the Super 8 phase.
A Series with Long-Term Significance
Afghanistan’s tour of India 2026 is more than just a short bilateral engagement. It represents a continued strengthening of cricketing ties between the two nations. Afghanistan’s cricketing rise over the past decade has been remarkable, and regular fixtures against top-tier sides like India are crucial for their development.
For India, the series offers an opportunity to test bench strength while maintaining competitive momentum across formats.
With historic context, competitive intrigue, and first-time milestones-particularly in the ODI format-Afghanistan’s tour of India 2026 promises to attract global cricket interest, especially among fans in the UK, US, and across South Asia.
