India are back in Test cricket, and this time they face Afghanistan in a one-off red-ball contest at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The match, scheduled from June 6 to June 10, marks only the second Test meeting between the two sides.While no World Test Championship points are at stake, the game remains important for both teams. For India, it serves as valuable preparation ahead of challenging overseas assignments later this year. For Afghanistan, it is another opportunity to test themselves against one of the world's strongest Test sides.The weather in Mullanpur is expected to remain largely favourable for cricket throughout the five-day contest.Temperatures are likely to hover between 35°C and 38°C, with hazy sunshine dominating most days. There is a possibility of thunderstorms during the morning session on Day 1, but significant rain interruptions are not expected.Humidity levels are forecast to stay around 32%, meaning players could face demanding conditions during long spells in the field. Overall, fans can expect plenty of uninterrupted cricket.India vs Afghanistan Test 2026: Mullanpur Pitch ReportThe Mullanpur surface is expected to provide assistance to both pace bowlers and spinners at different stages of the match.Fast bowlers are likely to enjoy good bounce and carry with the new ball during the opening sessions. As the match progresses, the pitch could slow down, bringing spin bowlers into play during the latter stages.Another positive for organisers is the venue's advanced drainage system, which can reportedly clear the outfield within 25 to 30 minutes of rain. This should help minimise delays if there are brief showers during the match.India vs Afghanistan Test 2026: Shubman Gill Begins New Era As CaptainIndia enter the Test with a fresh leadership group after the conclusion of IPL 2026.The BCCI has handed Test captaincy duties to Shubman Gill as part of its long-term planning. KL Rahul has returned to the leadership setup as vice-captain, while several young players will be keen to cement their places in the side.Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among the rising stars expected to play key roles. Meanwhile, senior figures Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested as India manage workloads ahead of a busy season.India vs Afghanistan Test: Visitors Face Major ChallengesAfghanistan arrive in India facing several hurdles.The visitors will be without star spinner Rashid Khan and mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, both significant absentees in red-ball cricket. Their confidence has also taken a hit following an innings defeat to Zimbabwe in their most recent Test outing.Captain Hasmatullah Shahidi will hope experienced players such as Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai can help Afghanistan compete strongly against the hosts.India vs Afghanistan Head-To-Head In Test CricketHistory heavily favours India in this fixture.The only previous Test between the two teams took place in Bengaluru in June 2018. India dominated from start to finish, posting 474 in their first innings before bowling Afghanistan out for 109 and 103 to secure victory by an innings and 262 runs.Afghanistan will be hoping for a much closer contest this time around.India vs Afghanistan Test 2026: Likely Playing XIsIndia Likely XIYashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.Afghanistan Likely XIAfsar Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper), Rahmat Shah, Hasmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Abdul Malik, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Qais Ahmad, Nangeyalia Kharote, Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar, Mohammad Saleem Safi.India vs Afghanistan Test 2026: Can Afghanistan Challenge The Hosts?India will start the match as overwhelming favourites, especially with home conditions in their favour. However, Afghanistan have shown steady improvement in international cricket over the years and will view this Test as a chance to prove they can compete against elite opposition.With Shubman Gill leading India, several young players eager to impress and favourable weather expected across five days, the historic Mullanpur Test promises plenty of storylines for cricket fans to follow.Inputs from agencies