Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has expressed confidence ahead of the upcoming one-off Test match against Team India, led by Shubman Gill. The skipper said that his team has improved significantly over the last six years and is ready to take on the challenge of one of the strongest teams in world cricket.
The one-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh from June 6 to June 10, 2026. The match is not part of the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and will serve as a lone red-ball contest between the two teams.
We Have Gained A Lot Of Experience Since Then - Hashmatullah Shahidi
Hashmatullah Shahidi stated that Afghanistan have improved since their first-ever Test match in 2018. He said that the team lacked experience in red-ball cricket at the time, but years of playing and learning have helped them grow as a Test side.
“That 2018 match was our first-ever game in red-ball cricket, and compared to now, we didn’t have any experience back then,” Shahidi said, as quoted by RevSportz. “After that, we played more cricket and learned a lot. With time, you gain experience. Personally, I have gained a lot of experience compared to that time.”
Afghanistan were granted Test status by the ICC in 2018 and played their first Test against India in Bengaluru. They lost the match inside two days. Since then, Afghanistan have played 12 Tests. Afghans lost by an innings and 73 runs in their most recent outing against Zimbabwe in Harare in October 2025.
We Play Only One or Two Test Games Every Year - Hashmatullah Shahidi
Hashmatullah Shahidi acknowledged Afghanistan have been facing challenges due to their limited Test schedule. The captain said that the team plays very little red-ball cricket, making it difficult for players to gain experience in the longest format.
“We play only one or two Test games every year, so the boys don’t have that much experience playing red-ball cricket,” Shahidi admitted.
India will enter the match as strong favorites despite resting players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. India's batting lineup includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill. The hosts will rely on Kuldeep Yadav, along with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
We Have Good First-Class Cricket in Our Country - Hashmatullah Shahidi
Hashmatullah Shahidi defended Afghanistan's domestic red-ball structure and said it plays an important role in preparing players for Test cricket. The captain pointed out that players regularly feature in first-class matches, helping them gain valuable experience in the longer format.
“But when it comes to our domestic structure, we have good first-class cricket in our country. Every boy plays six to seven games each and every year in red-ball. So that experience is also with us.”
Afghanistan have built a strong reputation in white-ball cricket, but questions remain about their consistency in Tests. In their most recent red-ball match against Zimbabwe, they were bowled out for 127 and 159 and suffered an innings defeat.
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