diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/io/csv.py b/python/cudf/cudf/io/csv.py
index eccedc7d9d02..e5b99b68fac1 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/io/csv.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/io/csv.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import csv
 import itertools
 import os
-from collections.abc import Collection, Mapping
+from collections.abc import Collection, Mapping, Sequence
 from io import BytesIO, StringIO, TextIOBase
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, cast
 
@@ -177,9 +177,6 @@ def read_csv(
     if byte_range is None:
         byte_range = (0, 0)
 
-    # We need this later when setting index cols
-    orig_header = header
-
     if names is not None:
         # explicitly mentioned name, so don't check header
         if header is None or header == "infer":
@@ -358,7 +355,7 @@ def read_csv(
             if (
                 isinstance(index_col_name, str)
                 and names is None
-                and orig_header == "infer"
+                and header != -1
             ):
                 if index_col_name.startswith("Unnamed:"):
                     # TODO: Try to upstream it to libcudf
@@ -366,6 +363,20 @@ def read_csv(
                     df.index.name = None
             elif names is None:
                 df.index.name = index_col
+        elif isinstance(index_col, Sequence) and all(
+            isinstance(col, int) for col in index_col
+        ):
+            index_col_labels = list(df._data.get_labels_by_index(index_col))
+            df = df.set_index(index_col_labels)
+            if names is None:
+                df.index.names = [
+                    (None if label.startswith("Unnamed:") else label)
+                    if isinstance(label, str) and header != -1
+                    else position
+                    for label, position in zip(
+                        index_col_labels, index_col, strict=True
+                    )
+                ]
         else:
             df = df.set_index(index_col)
 
diff --git a/python/cudf/cudf/tests/input_output/test_csv.py b/python/cudf/cudf/tests/input_output/test_csv.py
index 3be019c1058c..d2fffc125278 100644
--- a/python/cudf/cudf/tests/input_output/test_csv.py
+++ b/python/cudf/cudf/tests/input_output/test_csv.py
@@ -1263,6 +1263,28 @@ def test_csv_reader_index_col():
     pd_df = pd.read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=None, index_col=False)
     assert_eq(cu_df.index, pd_df.index)
 
+    # using a single column index wrapped in a list
+    cu_df = read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=None, index_col=[0])
+    pd_df = pd.read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=None, index_col=[0])
+    assert_eq(cu_df.index, pd_df.index)
+
+    # using multiple column indices
+    cu_df = read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=None, index_col=[0, 1])
+    pd_df = pd.read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=None, index_col=[0, 1])
+    assert_eq(cu_df.index, pd_df.index)
+
+
+def test_csv_reader_index_col_position_with_explicit_header():
+    buffer = "a,b,c\n3,4,5\n6,7,8"
+
+    cu_df = read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=0, index_col=[0])
+    pd_df = pd.read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=0, index_col=[0])
+    assert_eq(cu_df.index, pd_df.index)
+
+    cu_df = read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=0, index_col=0)
+    pd_df = pd.read_csv(StringIO(buffer), header=0, index_col=0)
+    assert_eq(cu_df.index, pd_df.index)
+
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("index_name", [None, "custom name", 124])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("index_col", [None, 0, "a"])