With global spectacles such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales dominating headlines, the first bilateral men’s ODI series between India and Afghanistan in Dharamshala may appear a modest affair. Yet, anticipation is high among local fans for a Rohit Sharma-led run fest at the HPCA Stadium tomorrow.Returning from a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026, the former India captain is once again preparing himself for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. He spent extended hours in the nets facing pace bowlers before moving to the side wicket, where he took throwdowns under the floodlights as a cool breeze swept across the ground.At 39, the ‘Hitman’ commanded attention in Virat Kohli’s absence. However, India’s new pace battery—Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav—will be sharpening their skills with an eye on the next World Cup. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to step in for the injured Hardik Pandya.India’s ODI form remains unsettled despite success in T20s and Tests. The Shubman Gill-led side has lost three of its last five ODIs, including a home series defeat to New Zealand. Against Afghanistan, ranked seventh in the ICC ODI standings, the No. 1 side will be eager to reassert dominance.“In terms of that No. 3 slot, we’ll experiment in this series. Whether it’s Ishan, KL or Yashasvi, it’s a good opportunity. We’ve got a couple of one-day games coming up, and we’ll try different options to better structure the team,” said India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel.For Afghanistan, the return of leg-spinner Rashid Khan is a major boost as they aim for a fifth consecutive ODI victory. Fast-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai adds bite to the attack, while in-form Mohammad Saleem—drafted after a stellar Test performance in New Chandigarh—will test India’s top order. Ishan Kishan is likely to don wicketkeeping role instead of longtime wicketkeeper KL Rahul.