India return to T20I action on Sunday, September 13, beginning a three-match series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
With all three games scheduled in the capital, the series offers both sides an important opportunity to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the upcoming Asian Games.
For India, the series represents the start of a new phase under captain Shreyas Iyer. The 15-member squad brings together established international names and emerging talent, with Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi among the key batting options. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy have also been cleared to play, while Yash Thakur has replaced the injured Harshit Rana.
The selection decisions will be one of the central talking points. India’s top-order combination remains particularly intriguing, with Samson, Kishan and Sooryavanshi competing for opportunities alongside Abhishek. The management also has several options for the middle order and will need to balance batting depth with a bowling attack suited to Delhi’s conditions.
Afghanistan enter the series under Ibrahim Zadran, who takes charge as their full-time T20I captain. They possess an experienced core, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq among the prominent names.
The spin battle could prove decisive. Afghanistan have multiple quality options through Rashid, Noor and Mujeeb, while India’s own attack has considerable variety, including Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy.
India and Afghanistan Squads
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor ul Rahman, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Nangeyalia Kharoti
India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Live Streaming
India
The match will begin at 7:30 PM IST. Fans can watch it live on Sony Sports Network, with streaming available on FanCode.
Afghanistan
The match will start at 6:00 PM Afghanistan Time (AFT). It will be broadcast live on Ariana Television Network (ATN), with streaming also available through the MY e& app.
Pakistan
The match will get underway at 7:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PKT). It will be televised on A Sports TV, while fans can stream it on Tamasha.
United Kingdom
The match will begin at 3:00 PM UK time (BST). Coverage will be available on JioHotstar UK.
USA
The match will begin at 10:00 AM ET/ 7 AM PT. Fans in the USA can watch the series on Willow TV.