India plays Afghanistan in the opening match of their three-ODI series on June 13, 2026, at 1:30 PM IST. Fans are eager to see if Shubman Gillโs squad can kick off the campaign with a win at the breathtaking Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium at Dharamshala.
Update: The toss has been delayed due to rain. The forecast for today’s match isn’t great, with 60-70 % chances of rain.
Player News and Injuries
For India, Notably, Virat Kohli has been ruled out of this series due to a hamstring injury, while Hardik Pandya will miss the entire series following a leg sprain.
However, there is positive news for the hosts, as Rohit Sharma is expected to feature. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into the ODI squad as a replacement for Kohli, fresh off a solid IPL 2026 performance and a century in his last ODI outing.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala is renowned as a high-scoring venue. Batters generally enjoy the surface, which is often considered a “belter” for the first innings.
While the pitch offers good bounce for fast bowlers, the combination of smaller boundaries and a fast outfield often leads to big totals.
With #ShubmanGill at the helm and #RohitSharma back in India's colors, #TeamIndia begin their Road to the ICC #CricketWorldCup 2027 in Dharamshala. ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฅ#INDvAFG | 1st ODI | SAT, 13th JUNE, 12:30 PM
[#ShreyasIyer, #KuldeepYadav, #IshanKishan] pic.twitter.com/lJgXExoeCb
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 13, 2026
However, weather looms as a major worry for the opening match, with an orange alert for potential thunderstorms and hail, potentially bringing the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method into play.
Ind vs Afg 1st ODI Broadcast and Live Streaming Details
Fans across the globe can follow the action through various local broadcasters:
India: The series will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi and their HD variants). Live streaming is exclusively available on the JioHotstar app and website.
North America (USA/Canada): Fans can tune into Willow TV to watch the action. The match is also available for streaming via platforms like Fubo.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐! โก
AfghanAtalan prepare to take on the hosts, India, in the opening match of the three-match ODI series tomorrow. ๐คฉ
๐๏ธ: Dharamsala Cricket Stadium
๐ง: 12:30 PM (AFT)#AfghanAtalan | #INDvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam | #e& โ Goโฆ pic.twitter.com/dq9XHOstc2— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 12, 2026
Afghanistan: Viewers in Afghanistan are advised to check local sports broadcast listings or international satellite channels that carry the Star Sports feed, as official regional distribution typically aligns with global cricket broadcasting partners.
