Afghanistan pacers have operated at tight lengths, barring a couple of overpitched deliveries. Ziaur and Azamtullah Omarzai have taken the new ball on a surface that has a tinge of grass over it. This could be the best opportunity for pacers. 

KL Rahul has been beaten on multiple occasions. In fact, Omarzai has been bowling really well despite him not being very quick. Nonetheless, Ziaur has now started to find some shape away from his third over. He is hitting the seam with an open-chested bowling action. Rahul being watchful here. 

IND: 15/0 after 5 overs. (KL rahul 4* off 14, Jaiswal 11* off 16)

Pic Credit: BCCI

India are playing a home Test without Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja for the first time in 15 years.

The last such occasion was coming against New Zealand in Nagpur in November 2010, and since then, at least one of the duo has been featuring in all 69 of India’s home Tests.

Today, India's spin-bowling unit involves Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and debutant Manav Suthar.

Getting off to the mark on the first delivery with a dab on the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal kick-starts the Test match. Ziaur Rahman takes the new ball for Afghanistan but leaks the first boundary of the match as well, overpitching and getting smashed for a lovely drive by Jaiswal! 

IND: 6/0 after 1 over.

Good morning from Yashasvi Jaiswal! 🌞

He takes no time to punish the full ball with pure timing. 💪#INDvAFG | Only Test ➡️ DAY 1 | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/hURsU016bX pic.twitter.com/vvCfWjUHIh

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 6, 2026

Both teams make their way onto the field and it is time for the National Anthems! 

Afghanistan's followed by India's!

Test Runs for India Since Rishabh Pant's Debut

While it is KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal who will open for India, an eye will be kept on Rishabh Pant, who will play as a player and not as a vice-captain. He lost his vice-captaincy before this series, and Gautam Gambhir adressed about it as well. Read more about it below. 

India Playing XI

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Afghanistan Playing XI

Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Afsar Zazai(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi

Captain Shubman Gill wins the toss and India will BAT FIRST in the Only Test against Afghanistan at New Chandigarh! 🙌🏏

🇮🇳 DEBUT ALERT: Manav Suthar makes his Test debut for India! 👏💙#INDvAFG | Only Test ➡️ DAY 1 | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/hURsU016bX pic.twitter.com/DT1ue9bL5p

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 6, 2026

Rajasthan's Manav Suthar has received his debut cap for India from fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav. 

The smile says it all ☺️🧢

Congratulations to debutant Manav Suthar as he receives his #TeamIndia Test cap from Kuldeep Yadav 🙌

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Au50EfVM30#INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/YRa3nUnYIY

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2026

Well, it is a bright morning in New Chandigarh. As far as the toss is concerned, it is Shubman Gill who won the toss and decides to bat first. 

Gill confirms that Manav Suthar, and not Harsh Dubey, makes his India debut.