BCCI unveils fixtures for India’s home series against Afghanistan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the schedule for Afghanistan’s highly anticipated tour of India, set to take place in June 2026. This bilateral encounter, occurring just after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, will see the Men in Blue take on the rising Blue Tigers in a multi-format series. The tour is highlighted by a historic one-off Test match and a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, marking a significant chapter in the growing cricketing rivalry between the two nations.

The tour kicks off with the longest format of the game before transitioning into the white-ball leg. Following the conclusion of the IPL, Indian fans will see a mix of seasoned veterans and young talent return to national colours. Notably, this series serves as a crucial preparation window for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with batting stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to lead the charge in the 50-over format.

IPL venue to make historic Test debut

In a landmark move for Indian cricket infrastructure, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) is set to host its first-ever Test match. The red-ball fixture will take place from June 6 to June 10, signaling the venue’s evolution from a preferred IPL destination to a sanctioned Test center.

Cricket enthusiasts in the region have long awaited this moment. While the stadium has previously hosted high-octane T20 encounters, the five-day format will test the character of the surface and the endurance of the players under the summer sun. For Afghanistan, this is only their second Test match against India. Their debut in the format back in 2018 at Bengaluru was a tough introduction, where India secured a dominant victory by an innings and 262 runs. The Mullanpur Test offers the visitors a fresh opportunity to showcase their technical growth in the longest version of the game.

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Schedule for India’s home series against Afghanistan

Following the Test match, the focus will shift to a three-match ODI series starting June 14. This leg of the tour is particularly historic as it marks the first-ever bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan; their previous encounters in the 50-over format have been limited to multi-team tournaments like the Asia Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup.

The series will travel across the length of the country, beginning in the scenic Dharamsala on June 14. The action then moves to the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on June 17, before concluding at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 20. Historically, India hold the upper hand with three wins in four ODI meetings, though the memorable tie during the 2018 Asia Cup serves as a reminder of Afghanistan’s ability to punch above their weight.

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