India vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI Match Statistics 2026

India and Afghanistan will face off in the first match of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan on June 13 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala. The match will be a day-night affair and will start at 3 pm Bangladesh time. Being the opening match of the series, both the teams will be looking to start with a win.

The Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, has given a chance to several young cricketers in this series. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav will be the focus of special attention. On the other hand, the Afghan team will rely on Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai.

There are also some injury concerns for India. Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Hardik Pandya's fitness was also in doubt till the last minute.

The wicket at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala is generally conducive to both batting and fast bowling. Being situated at a height above sea level, the new ball gives the pacers extra swing and bounce. Batsmen have to be a bit cautious at the start of the match, but once set, it is possible to play a big innings.

Since it is a day-night match, dew can play a significant role in the second innings. As a result, the captain who wins the toss can usually decide to bowl first. With good bounce on the wicket, stroke play is easy and scores of 280-320 can be competitive. Dharamsala's fast outfield also gives the batters an added advantage.