India begin their first bilateral men’s ODI series against Afghanistan in Dharamshala with attention centered on Rohit Sharma, who is returning from a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026 and is using the matches as part of his build-up toward the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Although the fixture comes amid larger global sporting events, local interest is high at the HPCA Stadium, where fans are expecting a strong batting display from the former India captain. Rohit spent long hours in the nets against pace bowling before moving to side wicket drills and throwdowns under the floodlights, signaling his readiness for international cricket again.
At 39, Rohit is drawing significant focus in the absence of Virat Kohli, while India’s newer fast-bowling group of Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav will also use the series to sharpen their skills with an eye on future tournaments. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to replace the injured Hardik Pandya, giving India another option in the middle order and with the ball. The series is being seen as an important chance for India to test combinations and regain rhythm after mixed recent ODI results.
India’s one-day form has been inconsistent despite stronger showings in T20 and Test cricket. The Shubman Gill-led side has lost three of its last five ODIs, including a home series defeat to New Zealand, and will want to reassert its standing as the top-ranked ODI team. Against Afghanistan, currently ranked seventh in the ICC ODI standings, India will look to deliver a dominant performance and build momentum before bigger challenges ahead.
Team selection is also expected to be a key storyline. Bowling coach Morne Morkel said India will use the series to experiment with the crucial No. 3 batting position, with options such as Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal under consideration. The team management wants to use the available one-day fixtures to find a balanced structure and identify the best long-term fit for the role.
Afghanistan enter the series with confidence and a major boost in the return of Rashid Khan, whose leg-spin gives them their most dangerous weapon. The side is aiming for a fifth straight ODI victory and will lean on a mix of spin and pace to challenge India. Azmatullah Omarzai, a fast-bowling all-rounder, strengthens their attack, while Mohammad Saleem, who earned attention with a standout Test performance in New Chandigarh, is expected to test India’s top order.
Behind the stumps, India may hand wicketkeeping duties to Ishan Kishan instead of KL Rahul, adding another point of interest to the lineup. With India experimenting and Afghanistan arriving with renewed belief, the Dharamshala ODI opener carries significance beyond a routine bilateral match.
