India are our predicted winners for the 1st ODI against Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, on June 13, 2026.
Shubman Gill’s side enters this series as overwhelming favourites, with a near-perfect ODI record against Afghanistan, while the tourists, despite boasting Rashid Khan and a settled batting unit, face a tough task on Indian soil.
Prediction: India to win by 40-60 runs or by 7-8 wickets.
IND vs AFG 1st ODI – Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st ODI, Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 |
| Teams | India vs Afghanistan |
| Date | June 13, 2026 (Tomorrow) |
| Time | 1:30 PM IST | 8:00 AM GMT |
| Venue | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| India Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Afghanistan Captain | Hashmatullah Shahidi |
IND vs AFG 1st ODI – Toss Prediction
At Dharamsala, the ODI pitch is batting-friendly in the first innings with an average first-innings score of 253 at the venue. The team winning the toss at HPCA Stadium is likely to choose to bat first, looking to post a big total and then rely on the mountain conditions to assist spinners later in the game.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will elect to bat first.
India Predicted Playing XI for 1st ODI
India head into this series with a relatively fresh-looking setup under Shubman Gill’s captaincy. The batting card is loaded — Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer in the middle offer serious depth.
Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav provide the spin firepower that will be key on Dharamsala’s surface, while Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna handle the pace department.
| Sr.No. | Player | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | Batter (Opener) | Experienced campaigner, powerful start |
| 2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter (Opener) | In-form, destructive at the top |
| 3 | Shubman Gill (c) | Batter | Captain, consistent ODI performer |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer | Batter | Solid middle-order anchor |
| 5 | Ishan Kishan | Batter | Aggressive middle-order option |
| 6 | KL Rahul (wk) | WK-Batter | Finisher role, experienced keeper |
| 7 | Washington Sundar | All-Rounder | Key spin option, handy lower-order bat |
| 8 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-Rounder | Pace all-round depth |
| 9 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler (Chinaman) | Premier wicket-taker vs Afghanistan |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Bowler (Left-arm pace) | New-ball and death overs specialist |
| 11 | Prasidh Krishna | Bowler (Right-arm pace) | Seam and bounce on Dharamsala pitch |
Also available: Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav
Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI for 1st ODI
Afghanistan arrive with their best ODI core intact. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a power-hitting opener who can punish any loose start. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah provide the middle-order stability, while Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi bring genuine all-round threat.
But the real danger for India comes at the death and in the spin overs, Rashid Khan remains one of the most difficult bowlers to score off in world cricket, and AM Ghazanfar has rapidly emerged as a potent mystery spinner.
| Sr.No. | Player | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | WK-Batter (Opener) | Explosive at the top of the order |
| 2 | Ibrahim Zadran | Batter (Opener) | Consistent, technically sound |
| 3 | Sediqullah Atal | Batter | Rising star in Afghan batting |
| 4 | Rahmat Shah | Batter | Experienced middle-order backbone |
| 5 | Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) | Batter | Captain, solid anchor |
| 6 | Azmatullah Omarzai | All-Rounder | Bat and seam all-round threat |
| 7 | Mohammad Nabi | All-Rounder | Tournament veteran, off-spin option |
| 8 | Rashid Khan | Bowler (Leg-spin) | Best bowler, economy machine |
| 9 | AM Ghazanfar | Bowler (Mystery spin) | Dangerous on turning tracks |
| 10 | Nangeyalia Kharoti | Bowler | Pace variation option |
| 11 | Fareed Ahmad Malik | Bowler (Left-arm pace) | New-ball swing |
Also available: Ikram Alikhil, Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
Dharamsala Pitch Report – HPCA Stadium
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is one of the most picturesque venues in world cricket, sitting at an altitude of 1,457 metres against the Dhauladhar mountain range backdrop.
On the field, conditions are unique, the high altitude means the ball travels further and the air is thinner, which generally assists batters in the first innings.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium |
| City | Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh |
| Capacity | 23,000 |
| Ends | River End, College End |
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly, assists spinners later |
| Average 1st Innings ODI Score | 253 |
| Toss Advantage | Bat first |
| Altitude | 1,457 metres |
What to Expect on June 13:
- The pitch provides good conditions for batsmen to score runs freely, especially during the early part of the game. However, the pitch can provide some assistance to bowlers as the match progresses, particularly to spinners.
- Pacers will find some early movement off the pitch before conditions flatten out.
- Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar will be dangerous in the middle overs as the surface turns.
- The fast outfield means timing the ball rewards batters with quick boundaries.
- Expected Score Range: 280-310 as a competitive first-innings total.
Dharamsala Weather Report – June 13, 2026
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Partly cloudy with pleasant mountain air |
| Temperature | 22°C – 28°C during match hours |
| Humidity | Moderate (~55-65%) |
| Wind Speed | Light, 8-12 km/h |
| Rain Probability | Low, but afternoon showers possible in mountains |
| Match Interruption Risk | Low-Moderate |
June in Dharamsala can bring brief mountain showers, but the Himachal Pradesh region typically sees afternoon weather settle for evening play. A full 50-over game is the most likely outcome, though fans should keep an eye on weather updates closer to the 1:30 PM start.
Dream11 Team for IND vs AFG 1st ODI
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head in ODIs
India and Afghanistan have faced each other in 4 ODI matches. India have won 3, with 1 match ending as a tie.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total ODIs Played | 4 |
| India Wins | 3 |
| Afghanistan Wins | 0 |
| Tied | 1 |
| India Win % | 75% |
Last 5 ODI Meetings:
| Match | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Cup 2022 | India | 101 runs |
| ODI World Cup 2023 | India | 8 wickets |
| Asia Cup 2018 | Tied | — |
| ICC World Cup 2019 | India | 11 runs |
| 2014 Asia Cup | India | 8 wickets |
India have never lost an ODI to Afghanistan, though the encounters have often been closer than the scoreline suggests, Afghanistan’s 2018 Asia Cup tie and their near-upset in the 2019 World Cup are proof this is not a side to take lightly.
Match Prediction: India to Win the 1st ODI Against Afghanistan
India are clear favourites, and rightfully so.
Why India Can Win
- India’s ODI batting lineup, from Rohit and Jaiswal at the top down to KL Rahul, is among the deepest in world cricket. On a batting-friendly Dharamsala track, a 300-plus total is firmly on the cards.
- Kuldeep Yadav is Afghanistan’s biggest nightmare in this format. His left-arm wrist spin has consistently troubled the Afghan middle order, and the Dharamsala surface will only make him harder to read.
- Home conditions, home crowd, and the psychological weight of that unbeaten ODI record all work in India’s favour.
- Shubman Gill’s captaincy brings fresh energy without losing the core structure.
Why Afghanistan Can Win
- Rashid Khan remains a match-winner in any conditions. If Afghanistan can restrict India to a chaseable total, Rashid and AM Ghazanfar can run through any batting lineup.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s power-hitting at the top gives Afghanistan the ability to chase big totals or set a fast pace when batting first.
- Afghanistan’s improvement as an ODI unit has been dramatic — they are no longer just competitors; on their day, they can beat top sides.
Final Verdict
India win this comfortably on paper, but Afghanistan’s spin attack means the game may be more competitive than the head-to-head record suggests. Expect India’s batting to shine first on a true Dharamsala surface before Kuldeep and Sundar wrap up Afghanistan well inside 50 overs.
Prediction: India to win by 50-70 runs (if batting first) or by 7 wickets with overs to spare (if chasing).
