India and Afghanistan will begin their three-match T20I series on Sunday, September 13, with the first game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Afghanistan are the official hosts of the series, but all three matches will be played in India.
Shreyas Iyer will lead India, while Ibrahim Zadran will captain Afghanistan. The match comes at an interesting time for India, who are looking to put their recent T20I results behind them. Afghanistan, meanwhile, arrive with a familiar strength in spin and enough experience in their batting and pace departments to make this a useful test for India's new-look combinations.
The match had also been under a cloud of uncertainty because it falls during the BRICS Summit in Delhi. That issue has now been settled, with the DDCA confirming that the September 13 fixture will go ahead as scheduled.
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I 2026: Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st T20I, India vs Afghanistan |
| Date | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Match Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Toss | 7:00 PM IST |
| India Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Afghanistan Captain | Ibrahim Zadran |
| TV Broadcast | Sony Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | FanCode and Sony LIV |
| T20I Head-to-Head | India lead 8-0, with 1 match ending without a result |
Latest India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Updates
- The first T20I will be played on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as originally scheduled.
- The DDCA has confirmed that the match will not be postponed because of the BRICS Summit-related security arrangements in Delhi.
- Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the Afghanistan T20I series after suffering a rectus femoris strain.
- Yash Thakur has been named as Rana's replacement in India's T20I squad.
- Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy have received fitness clearance and are available for selection.
- All three matches in the series will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Schedule 2026
Afghanistan are hosting the series, but there is no overseas travel involved for either team during the three-match contest. All three games will be played at the same venue in Delhi.
| Match | Date | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM IST |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM IST |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM IST |
India Squad for Afghanistan T20Is
India's squad has a mix of established international players and younger names. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. The selection also gives teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity at the highest level.
India Squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.
Yash Thakur came into the squad after Harshit Rana was ruled out. Thakur has already made his T20I debut for India and now gets another chance to work his way into the team's plans.
Afghanistan Squad for India T20Is
Afghanistan have plenty of experience in their squad, particularly in the shorter format. Ibrahim Zadran leads a group that includes Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib and several bowlers capable of exploiting different conditions.
Afghanistan Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor ul Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdollah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq.
India's Probable Playing XI
Note: This is METRET Cricket's projected XI based on the announced squad and likely team balance. The official playing XI will be confirmed at the toss.
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Tilak Varma
- Sanju Samson
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
The biggest selection question is likely to be the batting combination. India have several players who can fill the top and middle order, so the management may have to choose between experience, left-right combinations and the extra flexibility offered by their all-rounders.
Afghanistan's Probable Playing XI
Note: This is a projected XI and should not be treated as the officially confirmed team.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
- Ibrahim Zadran (C)
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Gulbadin Naib
- Rashid Khan
- Noor Ahmad
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is another option if Afghanistan decide that the Delhi surface deserves an additional specialist spinner. The final combination will depend on the pitch and conditions at the toss.
India's Recent Form Before the Series
India have plenty to prove in this series. Their recent T20I campaign in Ireland and England did not go as planned, with India losing all six completed matches across those two tours.
That makes the Afghanistan series more than just another bilateral assignment. It gives the team an opportunity to settle its combinations and regain some confidence before the Asian Games later in the month.
The return of players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy also gives India more experience and balance than they had during parts of their recent run.
What Makes Afghanistan Dangerous?
Afghanistan's biggest advantage is the variety in their bowling attack. Rashid Khan remains the headline name, while Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman can give the captain different spin options depending on the conditions.
They are not dependent on spin alone, though. Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi give Afghanistan two experienced pace options, while Azmatullah Omarzai adds another all-round option to the attack.
For India, the challenge will be to avoid allowing Afghanistan's spinners to control the middle overs. Losing wickets during that phase could make it difficult to build a strong finish.
3 Key Battles to Watch
- Rashid Khan vs India's Middle Order: Rashid does not need many deliveries to change a T20 innings. India's middle-order batters will have to find a way to rotate the strike while still putting pressure on him. Trying to attack every ball could be exactly what Afghanistan want.
- Jasprit Bumrah vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Gurbaz likes to put pressure on fast bowlers during the powerplay. Bumrah, however, rarely gives batters the same pace or length twice in a row. Their contest could set the tone for Afghanistan's first six overs.
- Varun Chakaravarthy vs Afghanistan's Middle Order: Varun's variations make him difficult to line up when he gets the right conditions. Afghanistan's middle order will need to pick his changes early and avoid losing wickets while trying to maintain the scoring rate.
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is not a ground where a good batting surface automatically means a high-scoring game. The relatively compact boundaries reward clean hitting, but bowlers who vary their pace and maintain disciplined lines can still make life uncomfortable for the batters.
Spin is likely to have a role in the middle overs, which makes this venue particularly interesting for an Afghanistan side carrying several quality spinners. India also have options such as Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakaravarthy.
The team that handles the middle overs better could have a major advantage. Batters who get set will want to make the most of the shorter boundaries, while bowlers will look to break partnerships before the final five overs.
BRICS Summit: Will India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Go Ahead?
Yes. The first T20I will be played on September 13 as scheduled.
The match attracted attention because the BRICS Summit is also taking place in Delhi around the same time. The combination of VVIP movement, security restrictions and expected match-day traffic had led to discussions about whether the fixture should be moved.
Those concerns have now been addressed. The DDCA has confirmed that the match will remain at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13 after discussions with the relevant authorities.
Where to Watch India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I
TV Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
Live Streaming: FanCode and Sony LIV
India vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Record
India have dominated Afghanistan in men's T20I cricket. The teams have met nine times in T20Is, with India winning eight matches and one ending without a result. Afghanistan are still waiting for their first T20I victory over India.
One of those eight Indian wins came in unusual circumstances. Their January 2024 meeting in Bengaluru was tied after both teams scored 212 in their regulation innings. India eventually won the Super Over contest, so the official record counts it as an India victory rather than a tied T20I.
| Record | India | Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| T20I Matches | 9 | 9 |
| Wins | 8 | 0 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I 2026?
The first T20I will be played on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
What time does India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I start?
The match is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 7:00 PM IST.
Where is India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I being played?
The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Is the India vs Afghanistan match postponed because of the BRICS Summit?
No. The DDCA has confirmed that the September 13 match will go ahead as scheduled despite the security and traffic arrangements for the BRICS Summit in Delhi.
Who is India's captain against Afghanistan?
Shreyas Iyer is India's captain for the three-match T20I series, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain.
Who replaced Harshit Rana in India's squad?
Yash Thakur has replaced Harshit Rana in India's T20I squad after Rana suffered a rectus femoris strain.
What is India's T20I record against Afghanistan?
India have won eight of their nine T20I meetings against Afghanistan, while one match ended without a result. Afghanistan have not yet beaten India in T20I cricket.