As much as the breathtaking backdrop of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium is admired, the weather in Dharamshala often dominates the conversation ahead of major matches. India are set to host Afghanistan in the first ODI of a three-match series on June 13, but rain could play spoilsport in the series opener.
Over the past few days, both teams have been preparing in Dharamshala amid frequent spells of rain. The current conditions in the city feature heavy cloud cover accompanied by intermittent drizzle, with visuals from the stadium showing the playing area covered.
According to the weather forecast, there is nearly a 50 percent chance of rain around the scheduled toss time of 1:00 PM. The probability of precipitation is expected to increase as the afternoon progresses, raising concerns over delays and possible interruptions. However, there is some encouraging news for fans, as rain chances are predicted to reduce significantly after 7:00 PM.
Recent Matches at HPCA Stadium
The HPCA Stadium recently hosted four matches during IPL 2026. With those fixtures taking place between mid and late May, weather conditions remained favourable and there were little to no rain interruptions during the tournament.
IND vs AFG: Pitch Report
The HPCA Stadium has traditionally offered excellent batting conditions, particularly for teams batting first. The quick outfield and relatively short boundaries make run-scoring easier, while the surface also provides good bounce, allowing fast bowlers to extract assistance.
Captains winning the toss are likely to prefer batting first and putting a big total on the board. Given the conditions, a score in excess of 350 could prove highly competitive.
Weather Trend Over the Last 10 Days
Dharamshala has witnessed persistent rainfall over the last week. Training sessions for both India and Afghanistan were also affected by rain on the eve of the match. If the recent weather pattern continues, interruptions during the first ODI remain a strong possibility.
