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Indian Test cricket begins on Saturday as a Shubman Gill-led side steps into a transition phase, taking on Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.The match, which falls outside the ICC World Test Championship cycle, marks India’s return to red-ball cricket after a break since November last year and comes at a time when the team is undergoing a generational shift with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma departed.

For Gill, the series represents an early test of leadership as he looks to consolidate his position as India’s long-term Test captain while guiding a relatively young and reshaped squad. India have used the fixture to widen their bench strength, offering opportunities to several emerging players alongside established names.

India’s batting line-up is expected to be anchored by KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top, followed by Sai Sudharsan, Gill, and Rishabh Pant in the middle order. The lower order features all-round options in Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, giving the side considerable depth even in the absence of senior stalwarts.

Gill comes into the contest in strong form, having amassed 983 runs in nine Tests in 2025 at an average of 70.21. His prolific run included a historic 269 at Edgbaston, underlining his growing stature in the longest format.

Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, arrive with limited experience in Test cricket but with a core group that has shown flashes of resilience. Rahmat Shah remains their most reliable batter in the format, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz brings an aggressive edge at the top of the order.

However, Afghanistan’s challenge is compounded by the absence of key spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman from the Test setup, placing added responsibility on Qais Ahmad to lead the attack. Supporting bowlers Bilal Sami, Saleem Safi, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Nangyal Kharotai will need to work collectively to contain a strong Indian batting line-up.

India’s bowling attack, meanwhile, is expected to be led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in the pace department, while Kuldeep Yadav will be the key spin weapon on a surface likely to assist turn as the match progresses. Washington Sundar adds further spin depth and batting balance to the XI.

The Mullanpur pitch is expected to offer good bounce and carry early in the match, with fast bowlers likely to find assistance in the first session. However, as the Test progresses, the surface is expected to slow down and assist spinners. Hot and dry weather conditions over five days could accelerate deterioration, making batting increasingly challenging in the latter stages.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be aiming to build their reputation in the longest format after inconsistent performances since gaining Full Member status in 2017. Their most recent Test outing ended in defeat against Zimbabwe, exposing familiar vulnerabilities against sustained pressure.

India, on the other hand, had lost to South Africa 2-0 in the home series. However, the current gap in experience and depth between the two sides, makes them overwhelming favourites.

While Afghanistan will look to Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Qais Ahmad for resistance, India’s superior batting depth and varied bowling resources are expected to dictate terms from the opening sessions.Overall, the contest represents both a transition moment for India and another developmental step for Afghanistan in Test cricket, with the hosts strongly positioned to assert control across five days.

Teams:

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

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Sediqullah Atal, Ikram Alikhil