India's upcoming Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, while outside the WTC cycle, serves as crucial preparation. The Shubman Gill-led side will use the match to reconnect with red-ball cricket and fine-tune strategies before a demanding WTC schedule.

Mullanpur, Jun 5 (PTI) Battling demons of a horrendous home Test run in the not so distant past but nevertheless a formidable unit, India are pitted against a plucky Afghanistan in a one-off Test here that might help the hosts figure out a balanced combination,

India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh will not count towards the World Test Championship as Afghanistan are not part of the WTC structure and the fixture is not a multi-match series.

The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium's pitch is expected to offer a fair game between bat and ball.

Until last week, the New PCA Stadium was bathed in red, serving as one of Punjab Kings' two home grounds for IPL 2026 and also hosting the Eliminator and Qualifier 2. But ahead of India's one-off Test against Afghanistan - the venue's first-ever - it shed all its colours.

India vs Afghanistan, one-off Test preview: Shubman Gill and his men will be looking to switch to red-ball mode before a tough stretch of the World Test Championship cycle. Visitors Afghanistan will be keen on putting up a good show in New Chandigarh,