India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is poised for a significant comeback to the national T20I setup, having been named in the squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the squad today, with all-rounder Washington Sundar and young talents Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy also included, contingent on receiving fitness clearances. The series, officially hosted by Afghanistan, will be played entirely at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi from September 13 to 17, 2026. .
India Squad Announced for Afghanistan Series
At 32 years old, Bumrah, renowned for his unique action and deadly accuracy, last featured for India in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he was a joint-leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets at an economy rate of 6.21 runs per over. His return will be a major boost for the Indian side, which has reportedly endured a challenging run in T20I cricket under captain Shreyas Iyer.
Series Schedule and Venue
All three T20 Internationals are slated for evening starts, kicking off at 7:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). The Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, a familiar hunting ground for both sides, will host every encounter, marking Afghanistan’s official ‘home’ series played in India due to prevailing geopolitical conditions.
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:00 PM |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:00 PM |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:00 PM |
India Squad Overview
The announced Indian squad for the Afghanistan T20Is includes a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, with the fitness of key individuals being a primary concern. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, with Tilak Varma as his deputy. The full squad for the series is:
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
- Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
- Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Jasprit Bumrah
(All selections for Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jasprit Bumrah are subject to fitness clearance.)
Head-to-Head Record and Form
Historically, India has dominated Afghanistan in the T20I format. In 9 matches played between the two nations, India has emerged victorious in 7, with one match ending in a tie (won by India in a Super Over), and one match producing no result. Their last T20I series in January 2024 saw India win convincingly. More recently, India secured a 3-0 clean sweep in a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in June 2026. Afghanistan will be eager to bounce back and register their maiden T20I win against the Men in Blue.
The series promises to be an intriguing contest, providing crucial preparation for both teams ahead of a packed international schedule, and fans will be eagerly watching the return of Jasprit Bumrah to bolster India’s bowling attack.