New Delhi, Sept 2026 : India and Afghanistan will begin their three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, with both teams aiming to fine-tune their combinations and assess their preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Afghanistan is serving as the host for the entire series, with all three matches scheduled to be played at the same venue in New Delhi.
India head into the opening match with a commanding record against Afghanistan in T20 internationals. The two sides have met nine times in the shortest format, with India winning eight encounters, while one match ended without a result.
The Indian team will be keen to make a positive start after an inconsistent beginning to the latest T20I cycle. India suffered defeats against Ireland and England and will now look to rebuild momentum against a strong Afghanistan side that has established itself as a competitive force in international cricket.
India have named a squad combining experience with emerging talent. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah are among the senior players expected to play important roles. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will also be one of the players attracting attention after making his international debut during India's recent tour of England.
Shreyas Iyer will lead the Indian side, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. The squad also includes wicketkeepers Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, while all-round options are provided by Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
India's bowling department features the experienced Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, along with spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi. Yash Thakur is another pace option available to the team.
Afghanistan, led by Ibrahim Zadran, will enter the contest with several established match-winners. Star spinner Rashid Khan remains a major threat, while wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz is capable of providing an explosive start at the top of the order.
The Afghan squad also includes experienced campaigners such as Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, along with Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq.
The opening T20I will provide both teams with an opportunity to experiment with their combinations, assess individual performances and identify areas that require improvement before the 2026 Asian Games.
Match Details
When: Sunday, September 13, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Telecast: Sony Sports Ten 3, 4 and 5 SD and HD
Live Streaming: FanCode app and website
Squads
India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq.
