Explained: Why India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan has no WTC points

India captain Shubman Gill, left, and India head coach Gautam Gambhir (AP Photo) India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh may mark the start of their red-ball season, but the result will have no bearing on their World Test Championship (WTC) ambitions. The match, which is scheduled from June 6 to June 10 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, is being held outside the 2025-27 WTC cycle as Afghanistan is not one of the nine teams participating in the championship. As a result, points and placement will not be affected regardless of the result. While the competition may lack relevance for the WTC, it remains an important point for India. The Shubman Gill-led side will use the game as an opportunity to reconnect with the demands of Test cricket after a long white-ball season and ahead of a crucial stretch of championship matches. India currently face an uphill battle in the WTC rankings after mixed results over the past year. With nine Championship Tests remaining in the cycle, including series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand before the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, every WTC match from now on will carry considerable weight. This makes the Test in Afghanistan a valuable preparation exercise rather than a scoring opportunity. The match will allow the Indian management to assess the combinations, give the players more time in the middle and fine-tune plans for future challenges. The game has historical significance for Afghanistan. It will be only their second Test against India, eight years after the two sides met in Bengaluru in 2018, a match that marked Afghanistan’s debut in Test cricket. The visitors will now be able to test themselves again against one of the format’s traditional powerhouses. Although the scoreboard in New Chandigarh won’t change the WTC table, both teams have a lot to gain. India can hone their red-ball skills ahead of a tough Championship schedule, while Afghanistan will get another rare opportunity to compete at the highest level of Test cricket.