India take on Afghanistan in the 1st ODI at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala on June 14, 2026. The match starts at 1:30 PM IST. Both teams come into this series with something to prove. India are without Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. Afghanistan are fresh from a Test thrashing and want to make a strong statement in white-ball cricket.
India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: Match Details
The first ODI between India and Afghanistan takes place at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on June 14, 2026. The match begins at 1:30 PM IST. This is the first game of a three-match ODI series. The other two matches will be played in Lucknow and Chennai.
India Squad: Big Names Missing, New Faces in Focus
Rising star Shubman Gill leads India in this series. Virat Kohli is out with a hamstring injury he picked up during the IPL 2026 final. Hardik Pandya has also been ruled out. These are two big losses for India going into a series that matters for World Cup planning.
Rohit Sharma is back after his own injury layoff. He got the green signal from the medical team and is expected to open with Gill. Yashasvi Jaiswal comes in as Kohli’s replacement. Shreyas Iyer bats at number four. KL Rahul keeps wicket in this series.
Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav lead the spin attack. Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna handle the pace. Both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have been rested for workload management. Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar could make their debut as the third pace option.
India Predicted XI: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal/Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harsh Dubey.
Afghanistan Squad: Dangerous in White-Ball Cricket
Afghanistan were beaten badly in the one-off Test at Mullanpur. But ODIs are a completely different format for them. Their white-ball squad is strong, experienced, and full of match-winners.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz opens the batting and is one of the most dangerous powerplay batters in the world. Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai add strength to the middle order. Mohammad Nabi brings experience and control with both bat and ball.
Rashid Khan is the biggest threat in this squad. He can turn a match on his own on any surface that offers turn. AM Ghazanfar is another exciting young spinner who has impressed in recent international cricket.
Afghanistan Predicted XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rehmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Nangeyalia Kharoti
Dharamsala Pitch Report
The HPCA Stadium pitch in Dharamsala offers good pace and bounce early on. Fast bowlers get help with the new ball in the first ten overs. As the match goes on, the surface slows down and spinners start to get more from the pitch.
Teams batting first at this ground prefer to put runs on the board quickly. A total of around 270 to 290 is competitive here. Both Kuldeep Yadav and Rashid Khan will be key players in the second innings if the pitch behaves as expected.
Weather Forecast for Dharamsala on June 14
The weather in Dharamsala is a real concern for this match. The forecast shows a 55 percent chance of rain on match day. Temperatures will stay cool, around 17 degrees Celsius during the day. The mountain conditions make Dharamsala pleasant for players but unpredictable for scheduling.
There is a genuine risk of rain interruptions. The DLS method will apply if play is affected. Fans travelling to the ground should be prepared for delays.
Key Players to Watch
Shubman Gill
Gill leads India and needs a strong personal performance with the bat. His ODI captaincy record has not been smooth so far. A big knock at the top of the order would do his confidence a lot of good.
Rohit Sharma
All eyes will be on Rohit in this series. He is 39 years old and returning from injury. India need to know whether he can still perform at this level with the 2027 World Cup approaching.
Rashid Khan
Rashid is the player India fear the most in this series. He is at his best on slow surfaces. If Dharamsala offers any turn, he will make India work very hard in the chase.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Gurbaz is a powerplay destroyer. If he gets going in the first ten overs, Afghanistan can set a target that puts pressure on India. Stopping him early is the key for India’s bowlers.
India vs Afghanistan Head to Head in ODIs
India have a strong record against Afghanistan in ODI cricket. They have never lost a bilateral ODI series to them. However, Afghanistan have improved a lot in recent years. They beat Pakistan in ODIs not long ago and they will come into Dharamsala with belief and a clear game plan.
Who Will Win the 1st ODI?
India are the favourites at home. They have the stronger squad, home conditions, and better batting depth. However, rain is a big factor and could change the entire shape of this match.
Afghanistan’s best chance is for Gurbaz to score fast in the powerplay and for Rashid to take wickets at key moments. If India bat first and post 280 or more, Afghanistan will struggle. If rain reduces the match to 30 overs or fewer, this game becomes far more unpredictable. India should win this match, but it will not be as straightforward as many expect.
Conclusion
India are set up well to win this series at home. But this first ODI at Dharamsala carries real importance for several players fighting for their place in the 2027 World Cup squad. Rohit Sharma needs runs. Shubman Gill needs a captain’s knock. And Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, will not make it easy. June 14 at Dharamsala promises to be a proper contest.
