In Dharamshala, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar ranges, the road to India and Afghanistan via South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia begins. Well, India has started their campaign to the peak as they are hoping to reach the peak two years from now. FIFA World Cup is going on in America. India women will start their T20 World Cup campaign on Sunday. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill’s men, away from the glare of those bright lights, are beginning their quiet, long journey to next year’s ODI World Cup.

With Virat Kohli ruled out of the series due to injury, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma – who will turn 41 when the ODI World Cup is played in October-November next year.

And there are a lot of possibilities for Rohit in these three matches. Neither he nor Kohli are automatic selections now; The selectors have made this very clear. Rohit reached this series He was troubled throughout the IPL 2026 season as he raced against time to recover from a hamstring injury, which limited him to just nine games. He scored 283 runs while serving largely as an impact player.

Unlike Kohli, who let his bat do the talking in yet another victorious season for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rohit has a point to prove to the selectors.

Fit-again Rohit eyes big runs

At least, the assurance is that he is fit and ready. Bowling coach Morne Morkel confirmed this On the eve of the match.

Morkel said, “It’s always good to have his experience back. The calmness he brings to the dressing room is always positive. He’s been training well, he’s progressing well. I know he’s excited to get going tomorrow.”

While Rohit played a key role in India’s ODI tour of Australia last year, he was able to score only 61 runs at an average of 20.33 in the three-match series against New Zealand earlier this year. Since age is not on his side, every series now is a proving ground. He will be well served by repeating the form of the 2025 season – 650 runs at an average of 50 from 14 matches.

But the focus won’t just be on the old guard. India will also use this series to test their depth in the absence of Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been included in the squad as cover, is the designated back-up opener, and along with KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan, he will be one of the options India are considering for the No. 3 spot. Morkel confirmed this, indicating that the management would rotate all three through that slot throughout the series.

Ishan, chosen as the second wicketkeeper, is likely to don the gloves in the opening matches of the series – if Friday’s training session was any indication – and will bat at No. 3.

India also has new faces in the fast bowling department. Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar have been included in the squad, and one of them could make his debut on Saturday, pairing with Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh to lead the new-ball attack in Bumrah’s absence.

Can Nitish Reddy move ahead?

Then there is Nitish Reddy, who steps into a bigger role after Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to injury. Under Morkel, Nitish has a chance to hone his bowling, and this series will be a real test of that development – ​​particularly his ability to contribute with the ball at international level.

Morkel said, “I always encourage players to go out and work and develop their game when they get the chance. Nitish did that. From a technical point of view, we worked to create more balance so that the energy flows down the wicket – both departments have improved. We are excited to see them working together on the international stage.”

Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey will join Kuldeep Yadav in the spin group. The management will keep a close eye on both all-rounders as they continue to build a potential World Cup squad.

India, he said, cannot take Afghanistan lightly – and it would be unwise to try to do so. Yes, they defeated Richard Pybus’s side in the one-off Test last week, but Afghanistan are far more dangerous in white-ball cricket. With Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Allah Ghazanfar a formidable spin trident, and Sediqullah Atal bringing flair and enterprise to an impressive batting unit, Afghanistan will be much more than pushovers in this ODI series.

pitch and conditions

Dharamsala is as beautiful as any venue in world cricket, but the HPCA Stadium is more than just a backdrop. When set at height, the ball travels faster away from the pitch, generally providing good pace and bounce. Some swing is expected with the new ball, although this is generally a batsman-friendly ground – teams chasing have won five ODIs here compared to four for teams batting first. In the last ODI at this venue during the 2023 World Cup, Australia scored 388 runs, with New Zealand falling woefully short by five runs – a reminder that big scores are very much on the table.

However, weather can be a factor. Light rain is expected in the afternoon, the temperature will be around 17 degrees Celsius and the humidity will be 74 percent. If the skies open up, the pitch will help the bowlers more and the outfield will be slower, making the toss – and the captain’s understanding of the conditions – even more consequential. Both sides may prefer to bowl first.

Team news and predicted XI

India

Selection talks in the build-up have focused almost entirely on the No. 3 slot. Morkel confirmed that India will rotate options throughout the series – with Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal all in contention. For the series opener, Ishan Kishan is most likely to get the nod at No. 3, with his attacking intent providing a different dimension to the top order. Jaiswal, naturally suited to open, is likely to be kept in the reserves, while Rahul would be better served at No. 5, a position he has established himself in with consistent performances.

Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar are set to make their ODI debut alongside Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh in the pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey provide spin cover.

India predicted XI: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav.

afghanistan

Rashid Khan joins Dharamshala straight away after their IPL campaign, while Mohammad Nabi – who is already with the team – is said to be unwell, which could make way for one of their younger options. Fast bowler Mohammad Saleem, who impressed in the one-off Test in New Chandigarh, has been included in the ODI squad and he could come in place of Bilal Sami or one of the spinners depending on the circumstances.

Afghanistan’s probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Umarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Zia ur Rehman Sharifi, Farid Ahmed Malik.

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