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India face test of depth in first-ever ODI series against Afghanistan

Reyaansh Bansal · 12/06/2026 · 4 min read

Big picture: Shaking off the rust in a historic encounter

The stage is set for a historic chapter in international cricket as India face test of depth in first-ever ODI series against Afghanistan. Having endured a challenging run in the format, losing three of their last five ODIs—including a recent home series defeat against New Zealand—India enters this contest with a clear objective: building momentum for the 2027 ODI World Cup. With several regular stars unavailable due to injury or rotation, the management is utilizing this series to experiment with their squad composition.

While the batting lineup remains formidable even in the absence of Virat Kohli, the bowling department presents a vastly different picture. India is currently testing its pace reserves, with Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh leading a relatively inexperienced attack. The inclusion of uncapped talents like Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar underscores the team’s commitment to scouting new fast-bowling options ahead of the next global tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Conversely, Afghanistan enters the series brimming with confidence. Having secured victory in four of their last five ODIs, they are eager to break their winless streak against India in this format. Their recent performance in the 2023 World Cup, where they narrowly missed out on a semi-final berth, serves as a testament to their growth. With star spinner Rashid Khan returning to the fold after missing the Test match, Afghanistan looks poised to challenge the Indian side, especially given their impressive A-team victory over India earlier this week.

Form and Readiness

Both teams face the hurdle of match rustiness. India has not played an ODI since January, and Afghanistan has been away from the 50-over format since October 2025. This extended break means that the initial challenge for both sides will be rediscovering their rhythm in the middle overs and managing the fatigue that comes with the transition back to the longer white-ball format.

Form guide

India: L, L, W, W, L
Afghanistan: W, W, W, W, L

Key Players to Watch

In the absence of Hardik Pandya, the spotlight shines brightly on Nitish Kumar Reddy. A quality fast-bowling allrounder is a rare commodity in Indian cricket, and Reddy has shown immense promise. Following a stellar IPL 2026 campaign and a crucial half-century in his last ODI, he is looking to cement his position as a permanent fixture. With a challenging tour of England on the horizon, Reddy has everything to play for.

For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Omarzai remains the man to watch. Having established himself as a critical component of their setup during a breakout 2023 World Cup, Omarzai’s consistency is remarkable. He enters this series with 24 wickets in his last 10 ODIs and the ability to contribute significantly with the bat, making him a dual threat against India’s top order.

Team News and Strategy

The most significant change for the hosts is in the batting order. With Virat Kohli sidelined by a hamstring injury, Ishan Kishan is expected to step into the pivotal No. 3 role. Kishan’s domestic form and T20 World Cup experience make him a natural fit for this promotion. Shubman Gill will lead the side, opening the batting alongside Rohit Sharma.

Probable India XI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav/Gurnoor Brar.

Afghanistan’s selection will depend heavily on the conditions. Mohammad Saleem has been added to the squad following his strong Test performance, and the team will be closely monitoring the fitness of veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi.

Pitch and Venue Insights

Dharamsala returns as an ODI venue, hosting its first bilateral series since 2017. Known for its picturesque backdrop and pace-friendly conditions, the pitch is expected to offer swing for the new-ball bowlers early on. However, once the shine wears off, the surface is typically excellent for batting. Historically, the ground has favored chasers, but the high-scoring nature of the 2023 World Cup matches here suggests that scores nearing 400 are not out of the question if the batters find their groove.

Milestones and Trivia

This series marks the first-ever bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan.
Shreyas Iyer needs just 23 more runs to reach 3,000 ODI runs, while Shubman Gill is closing in on the same landmark, requiring 47 runs.
Rashid Khan’s impact cannot be understated; he holds five wickets in three ODIs against India and will be the primary weapon for the visitors.

Reyaansh Bansal

Reyaansh Bansal is the digital cricket content lead for ESPNcricinfo, where he masters the art of making cricket irresistible on phones, feeds, and timelines. A Mumbai University media graduate, Bansal began his career in sports radio but quickly pivoted to the digital space, recognising that the future of cricket fandom was being shaped on Twitter threads, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. He now leads a creative team that produces viral match recaps, player quizzes, and data‑driven infographics for millions of followers. Bansal’s unique skill is decoding complex match situations into shareable, witty formats without losing the sport’s essence. His work has been praised by current players, broadcasters, and cricket boards for bringing new, younger audiences to the game.