India’s standalone Test match versus Afghanistan in New Chandigarh could serve as the opening chapter of their red-ball campaign, but it will not influence their hopes in the World Test Championship. The fixture is set for June 6 to June 10 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium and falls outside the WTC 2025–27 framework. The reason is straightforward: Afghanistan are not among the nine sides included in that WTC cycle. Because of this, the game carries no points implications and will not shift the WTC standings in any way, no matter which team wins.
Even without WTC weight, the contest still matters for India. Led by Shubman Gill, the team is expected to treat the match as a chance to recalibrate to the rhythm, patience, and technical demands of Test cricket after an extended run of white-ball action. The timing is also significant because it comes just before a decisive run of championship matches. India’s position in the WTC table has been far from comfortable following mixed outcomes over the past year, and the remaining schedule only raises the stakes.
With nine WTC Tests still left in the cycle, including series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand before the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, every match from here becomes increasingly critical. In that context, the Afghanistan Test is better viewed as a high-quality rehearsal rather than a chance to add to India’s points tally. It offers the coaching staff a platform to evaluate squad combinations, reward players with longer spells at the crease, and adjust tactical approaches for the tougher challenges that follow.
For Afghanistan, the match brings its own historical pull. It will be only their second-ever Test against India, coming eight years after the teams met in Bengaluru in 2018. That Bengaluru encounter was notable as it coincided with Afghanistan’s Test debut, marking a landmark moment for the visitors. Now, Afghanistan will get another rare opportunity to measure themselves against one of the format’s most established and demanding cricketing nations.
So while the scoreboard in New Chandigarh will not reshape the WTC table, there remains plenty at stake for both teams. India can use the game to sharpen their red-ball fundamentals and strengthen their readiness for a demanding stretch ahead, while Afghanistan get another valuable chance to compete at the highest level of international Test cricket.
