With Afghanistan developing into a competitive international cricket team, the India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline has become more and more interesting. For much of those early dates, India have treated Afghanistan as the attractive but predictable equivalent of a club side with an impressive corner flag, yet in recent years they’ve produced many memories including a tied ODI in the 2018 Asia Cup and a T20I to remember in Bengaluru in 2024.
This rivalry has since grown to encompass Tests, ODIs and T20Is. It was the most recent major chapter, in June 2026 when Afghanistan toured for one Test and three ODIs. India: 3-0 in ODIs, won Test by an innings and 300 runs
India National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline
The India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline started in 2010 where the two sides first met in the ICC World Twenty20. India would go on to win that initial T20I comfortably, however, Afghanistan’s progression in the following years made renewals considerably more competitive.
Below is a brief summary of some upcoming copyrides:
| Year | Format | Tournament/Series | Result |
| 2010 | T20I | ICC World Twenty20 | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2012 | T20I | ICC World Twenty20 | India won by 23 runs |
| 2014 | ODI | Asia Cup | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2018 | ODI | Asia Cup | Match tied |
| 2018 | Test | Afghanistan’s first Test | India won by an innings and 262 runs |
| 2019 | ODI | ICC Cricket World Cup | India won by 11 runs |
| 2021 | T20I | ICC T20 World Cup | India won by 66 runs |
| 2022 | T20I | Asia Cup | India won by 101 runs |
| 2023 | ODI | ICC Cricket World Cup | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2024 | T20I | India vs Afghanistan series | India won 3-0 |
| 2026 | Test | Afghanistan tour of India | India won by an innings and 300 runs |
| 2026 | ODI | Afghanistan tour of India | India won series 3-0 |
India vs Afghanistan First International Match
The first significant entry in the India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline came during the 2010 ICC World Twenty20.
Afghanistan, still finding their feet in top-level international cricket, came up against an India unit with heaps of experience. Afghanistan though created history with this match, although India came out as winners by 7-wickets in the contest.
The two teams faced each other once more, at the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, where India won their second group match by 23 runs.
In these early fixtures, India had a settled view as the stronger side, while Afghanistan was still in great learning mode against higher-level international opposition.
India vs Afghanistan ODI Timeline
As Afghanistan settled into the 50-over format, this ODI rivalry took on added importance.
The latter’s clash in the 2014 Asia Cup was pivotal. Afghanistan’s inclusion in the tournament showed that they are rapidly developing as a cricket nation, but India cantered to an eight wicket win.
One of the most memorable matches in India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team Timeline came during the 2018 Asia Cup. It was a thrilling ODI between the two sides, which ended on foot.
Afghanistan could not bag the win, despite putting the Indian batting line-up under magnificent pressure, as India’s chase came down till the final over. The tied game was especially important because it proved that Afghanistan is a competitive side and can compete with India in the largest stages of international cricket.
Historic Test Match vs Afghanistan (2018)
A few months later, in June 2018, they played their inaugural Test match against India, which took place in Bengaluru.
India were in complete control of the contest, eventually embarking to an innings and 262-run victory. 1 Test = Afghanistan made their Test cricket era official (beyond just the result)
The well set India batting and bowling unit proved too powerful for the new Test outfit. Nonetheless, Afghanistan took away something of benefit against one of the oldest Test teams in world cricket.
This is considered as one of the significant milestones in India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline.
2019 World Cup: India Beat Afghanistan by 11 Runs
India vs Afghanistan, 2019 ICC Cricket World CupIt is one of the most closely-fought ODIs between India and Afghanistan.
That looked a below par score, but one that should have been defendable as India managed only 224/8 in their 50 overs. The Indian bowlers raised the pressure during the last few overs, which made Afghanistan’s chase all the more palpitating.
Afghanistan went eventually 213 all out and India won the match by just 11 runs. Jasprit Bumrah bowled specifically well as Afghanistan’s bowlers had also done. It showed how competitive Afghanistan had become in the end.
2021 T20 World Cup: India Return to Winning Ways
But had an interesting encounter between India and Afghanistan at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
India registered their largest victory of the tournament so far, beating Afghanistan by 66 runs in a performance that was much improved compared to some of their earlier matches.
India: Mankad (1), Khanna, Anghiari, Ganguly, Satheesh Kumar whopping 104 off just six overs India tearing into the Afghan bowling attack. With that outcome, India once again took the lead in their all-time T20I head-to-head record.
2022 Asia Cup: Virat Kohli’s Memorable Century
Provides another crucial entry in the India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline: The 2022 Asia Cup.
Result: India won by 101 runs in Dubai Virat Kohli was top scorer for the match after scoring 122 runs off 61 balls.
This was Kohli’s first international century since 2019 and his maiden T20I hundred. He turned in one of the most iconic individual performances ever seen in this rivalry.
2023 World Cup: India vs Afghanistan in Delhi
The teams assembled in Delhi for ICC Cricket World Cup, 2023.
Afghanistan set a reasonable total, but had it not been for Rohit Sharma’s blistering century, India would have chased it down easily. India had won comfortably, through a brilliant ton from the Indian captain.
India went on to win by eight wickets, maintaining its unbeaten record over Afghanistan in all major men’s international cricket.
Afghanistan squad shows good improvement – the match clearly highlights the growing quality of Afghanistan’s squad. Afghanistan then also had an impressive World Cup campaign as they went on to beat a couple of the established teams.
2024: India’s 3-0 T20I Series Victory
Another major chapter in the India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline was the 2024 T20I series.
Afghanistan hosted India for three T20Is in January. India took the first two before a nail-biting win in Bengaluru for the third.
After combining for 212 runs in the third T20I. The teams were levelled at the end of regular time and the Super Over could not separate them either. India had to win in a second Super Over after the first ended in a dramatic tie.
India thus wrapped up a 3-0 series win however the perils of India-Pakistan rivalry notwithstanding, this Bengaluru thriller displayed that Afghanistan can match its greater neighbor in T20 cricket as well.
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2026: Afghanistan Tour of India
Last major event in India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline is 2026 india afghanistan t20i series in which ind won by 3-0
India hosted Afghanistan for a Test and three ODIs in October 2023. Since the tour had different test formats, it was an important step in the relationship of both cricket boards.
India dominated the entire tour.
2026 Test Match
India won the one-off Test by an innings and 300 runs against Afghanistan.
The comprehensive win was one of the biggest wins for India in Test history. Indian batting line-up big and bowling attack was too much for Afghanistan, and their spin played an important role in the match.
It was also a win that extended India’s unbeaten run over Afghanistan in senior men’s international cricket.
2026 First ODI
Dharamsala hosted the first ODI of the series in 2026.
India then chased down the 194 runs that were set by Afghanistan. India takes 1-0 lead in three-match series with a seven-wicket win.
It handed India an early lead in the first bilateral ODI series between the two sides.
2026 Second ODI
The second ODI was hosted in Lucknow and resulted in yet another Indian hammering.
It was a crushing victory for the India team as they beat Afghanistan by 170 runs. As a result, the ODI series was reserved for India with one match remaining.
2026 Third ODI
On June 20, the third ODI took place in Chennai.
India won by 9 wickets (with 128 balls remaining); India won ODI series 3–0. India’s three victories have also been confirmed by the official series results list, which notes India’s Test win by an innings and 300 runs earlier in the series.
India vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record for India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team is heavily in India’s favour.
Afghanistan have still never defeated India in a senior men’s international. The best result for them was in the ODI of 2018 Asia Cup which ended in a tie. India have also been dominant in recent head-to-head records across formats.
But the results only tell half the story.
Afghanistan have proven time and again that they can give India a run for their money, most at-times in T20 cricket. Their world-class spin attack, hard-hitting batters and international experience more recently have made them a dangerous opponent.
IND vs AFG: Key moments and milestones
Some of the Key Matches in India National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline are as follows
2010 – First T20I
The two teams had clashed in the first T20I that India won by seven wickets.
2014 – First ODI Era
India beat Afghanistan by 8 wickets (Asia Cup)
2018 – Historic ODI Tie
Afghanistan tested India to the full extent and made it a superover.
2018 – First Test
Afghanistan’s first Test, and India won by an innings and 262 runs.
2019 – World Cup Thriller
In Southampton, India defeated Afghanistan by a mere 11 runs.
2022 – Kohli’s T20I Century
India won by 101 runs as Kohli scored an unbeaten 122.
2024 − Double superover thriller
India come out on top against Afghanistan after an epic super over T20I in Bengaluru.
2026 – Record Test Victory
India won by an innings and 300 runs vs Afghanistan
2026 – ODI Whitewash
The three-match ODI series was held in India, where the hosts beat Afghanistan 3–0.
Upcoming India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026
The next chapter of India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline is set to unfold in September 2026.
India and Afghanistan are going to play a three match T20I series. The three matches will be played in the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium (Delhi). Matches will be played on 13 September, 15 September and 17 September, 2026 The series has been announced as part of the preparations leading up to the Asian Games
Another chance to bring Afghanistan within range of India in a format whose margin has always seemed to be smaller than the teams.
So Afghanistan can bank on its seasoned T20 specialists, and India have got a wealth of experience in the game’s shortest format. Giving the three matches an extra intrigue through the growing international rivalry.
Why India vs Afghanistan Is a Relevant Rivalry
India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline shows two substantially distinct routes of the same sport.
India have been one of international cricket’s bedrock sides for generations, with a rich domestic structure and massive potential player base.
Afghanistan’s emergence has been more rapid. The team transitioned from working at the link between associate cricket and the elite to producing world-class players who could compete against many of the best attending their ranges.
Internationally, Afghanistan has relied heavily on the breakthroughs of players like Rashid Khan. While top teams from other nations have struggled at times with the spin bowling that has not only hurt them and also the explosive batsmen opening up the innings who have revolutionized Afghanistan’s way of playing limited-overs cricket.
On the basis of past pedigree, India remains the obvious choice, but Afghanistan are a better team and with every new confrontation they have become more intriguing.
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FAQs: India National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline
1. When did India and Afghanistan first play each other?
India and Afghanistan first met in men’s T20I cricket at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. India won by seven wickets.
2. Has Afghanistan ever beaten India in men’s international cricket?
As of August 12, 2026, Afghanistan have not beaten India in a completed senior men’s international match. The 2018 Asia Cup ODI ended in a tie.
3. When did India and Afghanistan play their first Test?
Their first Test was played in Bengaluru in June 2018. India won by an innings and 262 runs.
4. What was the closest India vs Afghanistan ODI?
The 2019 Cricket World Cup match was one of the closest, with India winning by only 11 runs.
5. What happened in the famous 2024 T20I?
India and Afghanistan both scored 212 in Bengaluru. The match required two Super Overs before India finally won.
6. What happened during the 2026 Afghanistan tour of India?
India won the one-off Test by an innings and 300 runs and then swept the three-match ODI series 3-0.
Conclusion
The India national cricket team versus Afghanistan national cricket team timeline has changed significantly since their first encounter in 2010.
While India never lost to Afghanistan in senior men’s international cricket, the rivalry has given us many classic encounters. Standout encounters include the 2018 Asia Cup tie, the 2019 World Cup thriller and the 2024 Bengaluru Super Over classic.
It too was historic and added a further chapter to the book on the 2026 tour. India beat Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test, before cleaning up 3-0 in the ODI series.
The next meetings are three T20Is in Delhi in September, which fall due on August 12, 2026.
For fans of cricket, the rivalry is interesting as Afghanistan continue to close the space in limited overs cricket and India remain one of the deepest successful sides in the world. That leaves the latest chapter in the India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team story with an omen for witnesses in the forthcoming T20I series.