In a significant cricketing event, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bat first against Afghanistan in the One-off Test held on Saturday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. This match comes shortly after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League 2026 final. The two teams previously met in a Test match in 2018, where India secured a dominant victory by an innings and 262 runs in just two days. During the toss, Gill remarked on the hot and humid conditions, indicating that the pitch is expected to become slower and lower as the game progresses. He expressed pride in captaining at this venue, where he grew up playing cricket. Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, also shared his thoughts, stating that they were prepared for the challenge and had a solid preparation camp in Kabul. Both teams have made notable selections, with India fielding debutant Manav Suthar and Afghanistan including Nangeyalia Kharote in their lineup.