India is set to face Afghanistan in the Only Test match in Mullanpur, starting Saturday. The Indian team aims to move past the disappointments of a disastrous home season, particularly after a 0-2 defeat against South Africa last year. This match serves as a crucial opportunity for India to fine-tune their team combinations ahead of a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in August. The previous encounter between these teams in 2018 saw Afghanistan collapse dramatically, losing all 10 wickets in a single session. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi hopes his team can put up a better fight this time against an Indian side in transition. A significant focus for India is the No. 3 batting position, where Sai Sudharsan has been chosen over Devdutt Padikkal, according to coach Gautam Gambhir. With Ravindra Jadeja rested, the team is also looking for a long-term successor, with candidates including Rajasthan spinner Manav Suthar and Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey. The extreme heat in North India is expected to pose additional challenges for both teams during the match.