MULLANPUR, NEW CHANDIGARH: Excitement is reaching a fever pitch in the Tricity region as the newly built Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA International Stadium prepares to script history. Ahead of the highly anticipated one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan commencing on June 6, 2026, both teams hit the ground running today for intense, final-practice drill sessions.

The high-profile fixture transitions both teams back into grueling red-ball cricket following a packed short-format schedule. For the local organizers and fans, today’s practice marks the final countdown before New Chandigarh formally registers itself on the global cricket map.

High-Octane Drills: Team India Takes Charge of Net Sessions

The Shubman Gill-led Indian contingent hit the PCA Ground B training facility with clear strategic intent. Under the watchful eyes of the team management, the Indian batters spent extended hours adjusting their footwork and backlift to simulate red-ball trajectories.

Key players like newly appointed vice-captain KL Rahul, explosive wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, and young batting prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal were seen tackling a mix of express pace and local net bowlers. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy also underwent extensive fitness drills, signaling India's intent to test its fresh bench strength.

To facilitate top-tier preparation, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) specifically curated three customized practice pitches at the behest of Indian team management. The bowlers, led by speedster Mohammed Siraj and local Punjab paceman Gurnoor Brar, put in long, exhausting spells despite the soaring afternoon temperatures to hit the perfect line and length.

Afghanistan Team Adapts to Conditions in Afternoon Shift

The Afghan national team, led by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, took over the stadium grounds for their primary practice session scheduled at 1:00 PM. Bathed under the bright afternoon sun, the Afghan players focused on physical acclimatization and mapping out the heavy outfield dimensions.

The touring squad spent over two hours focusing extensively on neutralizing India’s top-order batting. While the visitors are facing a steep uphill battle—particularly in the absence of their premier spin wizard Rashid Khan, who has been rested for this Test assignment—experienced campaigners like Rahmat Shah and middle-order batter Azmatullah Omarzai looked sharp, defending stubbornly against local spin-bowling variations in the nets.

A Historic Milestone for Punjab Cricket

This lone Test match marks a monumental milestone for the region. The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur officially becomes India’s 31st Test venue, joining the ranks of its iconic neighbor, the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali.

PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer expressed great pride regarding the arrangements, noting that having local Punjab hero Shubman Gill captaining the national squad on his native turf adds a poetic touch to the historic debut.

"It is a matter of absolute pride for Punjab. The PCA has left no stone unturned to ensure a premium, world-class experience for players and spectators alike. We are ushering in a new era of Test match culture in New Chandigarh." — Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, PCA Secretary

Affordable Ticketing to Drive Summer Crowds

In an admirable bid to pull sub-continental crowds back to five-day cricket during the ongoing summer vacations, the PCA has instituted highly student-friendly ticketing brackets.

Unlike the exorbitant rates seen during recent commercial leagues, tickets for this historic clash start at a nominal ₹250, which remarkably grants stadium access across all five days of play. Special student passes have been uniquely provisioned at just ₹100 to encourage school and college-going youth to witness Test history in the making.

Expected Playing Squads

India Test Squad

Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar.

Afghanistan Test Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Bahir Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman, Nangeyalia Kharote, Bilal Sami, Mohammad Saleem, Bashir Ahmad.