India vs Afghanistan Today's Match Prediction, 1st ODI - Who will win today’s match?
Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 12 Jun 2026, 05:29 PM• Read time - 12 mins
India’s depth will face a stern examination when they take on Afghanistan in the first of three ODIs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala on June 13. While India’s batting reserves remain strong despite the absence of Virat Kohli, the spotlight will be on the fast‑bowling unit to deliver.
Debut caps are likely to be handed to either Gurnoor Brar or Prince Yadav, with Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna expected to spearhead the pace attack. In the spin department, all eyes will be on Kuldeep Yadav, who struggled for rhythm with Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded IPL and was below his best in the one‑off Test against Afghanistan.
The left‑arm wrist spinner will be eager to rediscover his wicket‑taking form to remain India’s go‑to option as the team management builds toward the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027.
This contest marks the first‑ever bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan. Until now, the two sides had only met in ICC and ACC events. With Afghanistan boasting a strong and competitive squad, the visitors are well‑placed to pose a difficult challenge to the hosts.
IND vs AFG Match Info
| Date | Fixture | Match No | Venue | Start time (Local time) |
| Saturday, June 12 | India vs Afghanistan | 1st ODI | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala | 1:30 PM |
Venue Statistics (ODI)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 9 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 4 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 5 |
| No Result | - |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 254 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 228 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 388/10 (49.2) by Australia vs New Zealand, 2023 |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 112/10 (38.2) by India vs Sri Lanka, 2017 |
| Highest Score Chased | 274 [274/6 in 48 overs] by India vs New Zealand, 2023 |
| Lowest Score Defended | 243 by Netherlands vs South Africa in 2023 |
HPCA Stadium Pitch Report and Playing Conditions:
| Aspect | Batters | Pacers | Spinners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Assistance | Good | Decent | Average |
| Bounce | Good | Good | Moderate |
| Movement/turn | Good | Minimal after powerplay | Moderate |
| Best Phase | Middle overs | With the new ball | Middle Overs |
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head record (ODIs)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 4 |
| India | 3 |
| Afghanistan | 0 |
| Tied | 1 |
India vs Afghanistan Playing XI Prediction
India
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
Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur Rahman
Players to watch out for:
Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan is likely to bat at three for India in the absence of Virat Kohli. The southpaw is on an absolute roll, having scored over 600 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League 2026. He was also the second leading run-scorer (317) for India at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Kuldeep Yadav
This series has prime significance for Kuldeep after a lull in the IPL. Kuldeep is a match-winner and knows how to stifle batters in the middle overs. He needs to have an excellent series to regain his confidence which suffered a massive dent while playing for Delhi Capitals.
Today's Match Prediction: India to win
Disclaimer: This prediction is based on current form, team balance, and available match data. Cricket remains unpredictable, and actual results may vary.
