India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh may mark the beginning of their red-ball season, but the result will have no bearing on their World Test Championship (WTC) ambitions. The match, scheduled from June 6 to June 10 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, sits outside the WTC 2025-27 cycle because Afghanistan are not one of the nine teams participating in the championship. As a result, neither points nor standings will be affected regardless of the outcome. While the contest may lack WTC significance, it remains an important fixture for India. The Shubman Gill-led side will use the game as an opportunity to reconnect with the demands of Test cricket after a lengthy white-ball season and ahead of a crucial stretch of championship fixtures. India currently face an uphill battle in the WTC standings after mixed results over the last year. With nine championship Tests remaining in the cycle, including series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand before the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, every WTC match from here on will carry considerable importance. That makes the Afghanistan Test a valuable preparation exercise rather than a points-scoring opportunity. The match will allow India’s management to assess combinations, give players extended time in the middle, and fine-tune plans for the challenges ahead. For Afghanistan, the game carries historical significance. It will be only their second-ever Test against India, eight years after the two sides met in Bengaluru in 2018, a match that marked Afghanistan’s debut in Test cricket. The visitors will now have a chance to test themselves again against one of the format’s traditional powerhouses. Although the scoreboard in New Chandigarh will not alter the WTC table, both teams have plenty to gain. India can sharpen their red-ball skills ahead of a demanding championship schedule, while Afghanistan get another rare opportunity to compete at the highest level of Test cricket.
