The three-match T20I series between Afghanistan and India is set to begin on September 13, 2026, with all matches scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The games will be played on September 13, 15, and 17, each starting at 7:00 PM IST.
Although the matches are being held in India, this is technically a home series for Afghanistan. Shreyas Iyer will captain the Indian side, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. With several interesting selection battles and a strong Afghan spin attack on show, here are three players to keep an eye on.
Here are 3 players to watch out for in the AFG v IND T20I series:
3. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson returns to the Indian squad for this series after missing the tour of Zimbabwe. He played a key role in India defending their T20 World Cup title, contributing important knocks at the business end of the tournament. His return adds significant depth and experience to India’s batting line-up.
However, Samson is expected to face stiff competition from young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a place at the top of the order. How Samson handles this challenge and stakes his claim will be one of the more compelling storylines of the series.
2. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is one of the most recognisable names in world cricket and will be Afghanistan’s biggest threat in this series. The leg-spin bowler is confirmed in Afghanistan’s squad alongside fellow spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, forming a formidable spin trio that will test India’s batting unit on the New Delhi surface.
His experience in franchise cricket across the globe gives him a strong understanding of how to approach T20 conditions and read opposition batters. Rashid’s ability to control the middle overs and pick up wickets at crucial moments makes him the player India will be most wary of throughout the series.
1. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enters this series on the back of a sensational T20I run in Zimbabwe. The 15-year-old was India’s leading run-scorer in their 3-0 series sweep, accumulating 151 runs in three matches.
His presence at the top of the order is expected to be a major talking point, particularly given the competition for opening spots with the experienced Sanju Samson. The Afghanistan series presents Sooryavanshi with a significant opportunity to cement his place in the Indian T20I set-up. All eyes will be on how the teenager performs against a quality Afghan spin attack on a surface that is likely to assist the bowlers.