India Arrive in New Chandigarh Ahead of One-Off Test Against Afghanistan at Mullanpur

New Chandigarh, June 2026 : The Indian cricket team arrived in New Chandigarh on Tuesday ahead of their one-off Test match against Afghanistan, scheduled to be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur from June 6. The fixture will mark India’s return to red-ball cricket following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Led by captain Shubman Gill, the Indian contingent reached the city and checked into the team hotel as preparations began for the much-anticipated Test. The squad was seen together upon arrival, signaling the start of their transition from white-ball intensity back to the traditional format of the game.

Among the key players spotted with the squad were newly-appointed vice-captain KL Rahul, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. The presence of several young and experienced players reflects India’s balanced approach as they prepare for a packed international calendar ahead.

This will be India’s first Test match since their 2–0 home series defeat to South Africa last year. While the Afghanistan Test is not part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, it holds importance for India as they look to rebuild rhythm and consistency in the longest format. The team is expected to use the fixture as a preparatory platform ahead of challenging overseas tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand later this year.

Training sessions are likely to begin shortly, with the focus on adjusting to red-ball conditions and fine-tuning combinations. The coaching staff will be keen to assess both established players and emerging talents in match-like scenarios ahead of more competitive assignments.

For Afghanistan, the match represents another valuable opportunity to test their skills against a top-tier Test nation. Having gradually established themselves in international cricket, the visitors will aim to deliver a competitive performance and gain further experience in the format.

India and Afghanistan have met only once previously in Test cricket. Their sole encounter came in 2018 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which was Afghanistan’s debut in Test cricket. India dominated that match, winning by an innings and 262 runs inside two days.

The upcoming Test will therefore mark the first red-ball meeting between the two sides in eight years, adding historical significance to the fixture.

India Test Squad: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.