India faced Afghanistan in the first of three one-day international cricket matches on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The match was delayed due to rain but eventually concluded with India winning decisively by 7 wickets.
Why it matters: This match marks the first bilateral ODI series between India and Afghanistan, following their previous encounters primarily in World Cups and Asia Cups. India continues to build momentum ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The series is a key opportunity for India to experiment with their squad depth as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
Historically, India has been dominant against Afghanistan in ODIs, winning all three completed matches prior to this series.
Shubman Gill, leading the team as captain, aims to solidify his leadership after a rocky start with two losses in three series.
Driving the news: The match commenced after a delay caused by persistent rain, which reduced the game to a 25-over format. The cut-off time for a 20-over game was set at 6:32 PM local time.
The toss was delayed, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the postponement due to weather conditions.
India entered the match having recently completed a commanding innings and 300-run victory over Afghanistan in a one-off test.
Afghanistan aimed to bounce back from their previous test loss and capitalize on their recent ODI form, having won four consecutive matches prior to this series.
State of play: The match saw India chasing a target of 195 runs after Afghanistan scored 194 in their innings. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a strong start, setting the tone for the chase.
India chased down the target with 13 balls remaining, scoring 195 runs for 3 wickets in 22.5 overs.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opened the innings with a partnership of 46 runs before Rohit was dismissed.
Ishan Kishan contributed significantly with a brisk 34 off 22 balls, and KL Rahul finished unbeaten on 39 runs off 19 balls.
The big picture: This ODI series is particularly important for both teams as they prepare for future international competitions.
India plans to play around 25 ODIs leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, allowing them to assess their player combinations.
Shubman Gill's leadership is under scrutiny as he seeks to establish his influence in the dressing room alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Afghanistan, having struggled in the test match, will look to regroup and perform in the upcoming ODIs to build confidence.
What they're saying: Following the match, both captains shared their thoughts on the game and the impact of the weather.
“It was tough with the rain interruptions, but we managed to adapt quickly and execute our plans,” Shubman Gill said.
“We need to learn from this match and improve our performance in the next games,” Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan's captain, commented.
By the numbers: Key statistics from the match highlight India's dominance and Afghanistan's challenges.
India won by 7 wickets, successfully chasing 195 runs in just 22.5 overs.
Afghanistan scored 194 runs in 24.5 overs, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran contributing significantly.
Rohit Sharma scored 46 runs, and Ishan Kishan added 34 runs, proving instrumental in the chase.
What's next: The second ODI is scheduled for June 17, 2026, in Lucknow, followed by the third match on June 20, 2026, in Chennai.
Both teams will look to adjust their strategies based on the performances observed in the first match.
India aims to maintain its winning momentum, whereas Afghanistan seeks to bounce back and secure a victory in the upcoming matches.
Fans can catch the action live on Willow TV and through streaming services like Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.