India will commence their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup when they face Afghanistan in the first of a three-match ODI series at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday.
Team News and Injuries
Led by Shubman Gill, India enter the series in high spirits after a dominant innings and 300-run victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Mullanpur earlier this week. However, the hosts will be without two key players. Former captain Virat Kohli has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss the series because of a leg sprain. Pandya had recently recovered from back spasms and was cleared by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, but a fresh injury has forced him out of all three matches.
Series Schedule
After the opening game in Dharamsala, the teams will travel to Lucknow for the second ODI on June 17, before the series concludes in Chennai on June 20.
Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
- When is the match? The first ODI will be played on June 13.
- Where is the match? HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.
- Match start time: 1:30 PM IST; toss at 1:00 PM IST.
- TV broadcast: Star Sports Network.
- Live stream: JioStar.
- Live updates: TimesofIndia.com.
Weather Report
Rain could play a role in the opening ODI. The Meteorological Department has predicted wet weather across Himachal Pradesh until June 16. An orange alert was issued for June 12 due to thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds, while a yellow alert remains from June 13 to June 16. On match day, light rain is expected with around a 55 percent chance of precipitation. Temperatures are likely to range between 12°C and 18°C, raising concerns about possible interruptions.
Pitch Report
The Dharamsala surface traditionally aids fast bowlers, especially with the new ball. However, once batters settle, scoring becomes easier due to the quick outfield and relatively short boundaries. The venue has produced both high-scoring contests and dramatic batting collapses. The last ODI here, during the 2023 World Cup, saw Australia and New Zealand combine for a staggering 771 runs.
Predicted India XI
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
Squads
India
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav.
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.
