In the one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, India enters with a focus on experimentation amid a transition phase under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. With Afghanistan considered underdogs, the match offers India a chance to address critical positions, particularly the No. 3 batting slot and a successor to Ravindra Jadeja in red-ball cricket. India has a stark experience advantage, having played 67 Tests since Afghanistan's inaugural match in 2018, during which they have only participated in 12. The Indian squad boasts a combined total of 39 Test centuries, while Afghanistan has just nine. Gambhir has indicated that Sai Sudharsan will be given a chance to establish himself at No. 3, while the absence of Jadeja has opened up competition for a left-arm spinner, with Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey emerging as leading candidates. This match is crucial for India as they seek to rebuild confidence following a disappointing home Test season, where they lost 0-2 to South Africa.