The series opener will be played at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, a venue known for its stunning backdrop and unique pitch conditions that favour fast bowlers early on. Due to the altitude, cool weather, and lush grass cover, fast bowlers find substantial swing and bounce early in the innings, making batting a challenge initially. However, once batters settle in, stroke play becomes significantly easier, and the ground has also witnessed many high-scoring matches.

The average first-innings score is expected to be between 280 and 300, with dew in the second innings making chasing the preferred option for the toss-winning side. Weather in Dharamsala on Saturday is expected to be partly cloudy with temperatures around 22°C and only a 5% chance of rain — a full game is anticipated.

India holds a completely dominant record against Afghanistan across formats. The Men in Blue have never lost to Afghanistan, winning 11 out of 14 encounters. However, Afghanistan has pushed India to the brink twice, forcing a Super Over tie in the 2018 Asia Cup and nearly causing an upset at the 2021 T20 World Cup. In ODIs specifically, India has won three of the four matches played, with one match ending in a tie.

All eyes will be on the returning veteran Rohit Sharma. The 39-year-old has battled a right hamstring injury but has received fitness clearance, joining the Indian squad in Mohali and is fit to play the series opener. The stakes are immense for him:

• Record in Sight: By playing this match, Rohit is set to break a 37-year-old record, surpassing Mohinder Amarnath to become the oldest player to represent India in an ODI. At 39 years and 44 days on the match day, he will be older than Amarnath (39 years 36 days) was when he played his last ODI in 1989.
• Outstanding Record Against Afghanistan: In 3 ODIs against Afghanistan, Rohit has scored 150 runs at an average of 75 and a strike rate of 127.11, including a massive century.
• Devastating Previous Knock: In his last outing against Afghanistan during the 2023 World Cup, Rohit smashed a breathtaking 131 off just 84 balls, an innings laced with 16 fours and 5 sixes.
• Upcoming Milestone: Sharma is just six runs away from completing 16,000 runs in international cricket as an opener.

India will be without several senior players, which presents a golden opportunity for youngsters. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya have been ruled out due to injuries. In their absence, Shubman Gill will continue as captain, with Shreyas Iyer as his deputy. The squad has seen the inclusion of maiden call-ups for fast bowlers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, along with spinner Harsh Dubey. Ishan Kishan also returns to the ODI squad after more than two years. With the pitch favouring early movement for pacers, India is expected to play three frontline seamers, with Prince Yadav likely to make his debut. Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack.

Afghanistan enters the series with a settled and dangerous squad, particularly in the spin department. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who was rested for the one-off Test match, returns to the side. He comes in red-hot form after an impressive IPL 2026 season where he picked up 21 wickets for Gujarat Titans. Their batting relies heavily on the aggressive opening duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, while the middle order boasts the experience of captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and the all-round skills of Azmatullah Omarzai.

India: Star Sports Network (TV) · JioHotstar / JioStar (App & Website)
Global (Free): ICC.tv and ICC’s official YouTube channel
Match Start: 1:30 PM IST · 8:00 AM GMT