India 19/0 in 6.1 Overs | IND vs AFG Live Score 2026: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul give India steady start against Afghanistan – The Tech Word News

IND vs AFG Live Score 2026: A new venue and a new chapter awaited both sides as India captain Shubman Gill won the toss today and opted to bat first against Afghanistan in the one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

The match revives memories of the teams’ only previous Test meeting in Bengaluru in 2018, when India cruised to an emphatic innings and 262-run victory over two days. After eight years, Afghanistan arrive hoping to be a much stronger contender against a home team in transition under Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gill said the hot and humid conditions, along with the expectation that the pitch would be slower and lower, influenced his decision to bat first. For the Indian captain, the occasion had an added meaning as he grew up playing cricket in the area and described it as a privilege to captain India on the spot. He also stressed that with nine Tests scheduled after the Afghanistan match, getting the right combinations remains one of the team’s priorities. India handed debut to left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi revealed that his side too would prefer to bat first on a surface that looked good. However, after a productive training camp in Kabul, he insisted his team was ready for the challenge. Opting for a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners, Afghanistan gave debutant Nangeyalia Kharote her first Test cap as they looked to bridge the gap between the much more experienced hosts.

Playing XI:

India XI: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (w), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Afghanistan