Cricket

India vs Afghanistan Test Match Preview & Tips – India to sweep Afghanistan aside in one-off Test

By Site Editor

3 hours ago

Site Editor 3 hours ago

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The only Test match between the sides ended in India winning by an innings and 262 runs back in 2018
Afghanistan have lost three of their last four Tests (W1)
Preview, stats & head to head

India's Shubman Gill (Getty Images)

India vs Afghanistan Test Match Preview & Tips
Head To Head
India Form
Afghanistan Form

India vs Afghanistan Test Match Preview & Tips

India are aiming to get back to winning ways in the Test match format after two defeats at the hands of South Africa back in November.

Afghanistan have a chance to underline their continued development in the longest format as they take on India this week.

India are unbeaten in four of their last six Tests (W3, D1, L2)
Shubman Gill averaged 70.21 in the Test match format in 2025

Head To Head

The pair have only met once before in the Test match format, with India storming to a commanding innings and 262-run win back in 2018.

India Form

India are aiming to edge back towards the summit of the men’s Test rankings after slipping below Australia and South Africa at the top of the standings.

Their last pair of completed Tests ended in defeats by 30 runs and 408 runs, with South Africa far too good across their two meetings.

The main focus following their stunning defeats will be on batting solidity. The first test saw India skittled for 189 and 93, with the second Test not seeing them fare much better as they were restricted to 201 and 140. While South Africa were only just better with scores of 159 and 153 in the first Test, in the second Test they stormed to scores of 489 and 260/5 declared.

The hope will be that their range of talent including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal can build solid foundations if they make the starting XI. Afghanistan will arrive with a number of good spinners and pace options, but they will not likely have enough to seriously trouble the home side.

Gill impressed across the IPL, and I back him to swap the 20 over game for the Test match format with ease. With India looking to begin their return to the game with a win, I back the side to ease past Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Form

Afghanistan have not played a Test match since they slumped to an innings and 73-run loss to Zimbabwe back in October 2025.

This loss followed on from a 72-run win over the same opponents nine months before. While Afghanistan have won one of their last two in the Test match format, they have only played four Tests since December 2023.

Afghanistan are a side that are looking to continue their development in the longest format, but matches have been few and far between. Ultimately, sporadic outings against the best sides in the world are likely to provide some learning experiences, but will massive defeats actually end in the nation improving in the Test game?

With Afghanistan struggling for Test time, I am backing another chastening defeat as their lack of game time ends with India storming to a big win.

Verdict

India v Afghanistan One-Off Test

I am backing Gill to go well with the bat on his return to the Test arena as he leads his side to victory.

India

Match Winner

@-833.33 - 1 Unit

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Gill 50+ Runs

Batter Milestones

@-200.00 - 1 Unit