While the Test played by India against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh holds much interest, it is accompanied by a significant caveat. It has to be said that although it is a full-five day international game, it will not be considered as part of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. The reason is obvious, considering that Afghanistan has not been included in the participating sides in this edition of the WTC. Hence, there will be no championship points awarded in the game.
This will be only the second occasion that both teams play in the Tests, taking place on June 6 to June 10 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. For India, it will be an opportunity to get back into shape in the longest format after going through a period of white-ball cricket games. At the same time, Afghanistan will have a chance to play against another strong Test nation, following the country’s historic first Test in 2018 when they faced India in Bengaluru.
What Comes Next for India After the Afghanistan Test?
Will this Test Affect any Change in India’s WTC Standings?
The answer is no. Since Afghanistan is not part of the WTC 2025-27 competition, the outcome will have no effect on India’s points tally or percentage. India currently sit sixth in the standings with four wins, four defeats and one draw from nine Tests, resulting in a points percentage of 48.15. Therefore, regardless of whether India win, lose or draw in New Chandigarh, their position on the WTC table will remain unchanged. However, the fixture provides an opportunity to assess combinations and prepare for crucial championship matches ahead.
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India to Tour Sri Lanka for Two-Match Test Series in August 2026
Focus will soon switch to Sri Lanka, where India will be playing their two Test series in the latter half of August 2026. As opposed to the game against Afghanistan, the Test games against Sri Lanka will count towards the WTC and hold immense importance. India has found it difficult to maintain continuity in their red-ball game recently and are under pressure to perform better. Playing the two games against Sri Lanka can be seen as an important chance for them to get some points before more challenging games ahead in the WTC cycle.
India’s Tour of New Zealand for 2026-27
India will follow suit after Sri Lanka, with a huge New Zealand tour scheduled between October 22 and December 1, 2026. The tour features five T20I, five ODI and two Test matches. The first Test will be held at Wellington starting November 19, and the second one will take place at Christchurch on December 1. It is anticipated that the two matches will significantly impact India’s WTC challenge. Generally, New Zealand is not an easy territory for India, as the latter lost 0-2 in the former’s Test tour previously. Consequently, strong performances in those matches could be critical to India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final in 2027.
