1st T20I: Can Ibrahim Zadran-led Afghanistan challenge India in Delhi?
What's the story
Afghanistan will take on India in the first T20I of the series on Sunday, September 13. The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This series is historic as, though India are playing on home series, Afghanistan have the hosting rights. Ibrahim Zadran will captain Afghanistan and has a number of seasoned players at his disposal. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer will captain a nearly full-strength Team India.
Venue analysis
Pitch report and conditions
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is known for its batting-friendly surface in T20 cricket.
The pitch offers good pace and bounce, making it easier for batters to play their shots.
However, dew could play a major role in the second innings of this night game, making batting easier and posing challenges for bowlers trying to grip the ball.
The match will be broadcasted live on Star Sports Network and streamed online on JioHotstar app/website (7:00pm IST).
Team composition
India's squad for the series
India come into this series after a 3-0 whitewash of Zimbabwe.
The squad includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, and Ravi Bishnoi among others.
Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team's bowling attack.
The Men in Blue are looking to finalize their combination and gain momentum ahead of the Asian Games.
As Samson was dropped for the Zimbabwe series, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might continue as the opening combination.
Historical matchup
A look at the head-to-head record
The upcoming series could witness history as Afghanistan are yet to beat India in an international game, as per Cricinfo.
In T20Is, India have won each of their eight concluded affairs against the Afghan side.
One of their victories came in an historic double Super Over in 2024.
Notably, India whitewashed Afghanistan 3-0 in an ODI series earlier this year.
Team lineup
Probable XIs of India and Afghanistan
India (Probable XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran (c), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Afghanistan (Probable XI): Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
Stats
Here are the key performers
Sooryavanshi finished the recent Zimbabwe T20I series with two half-centuries and was named Player of the Series.
Ishan Kishan's tally of 812 runs across 23 T20Is in 2026 at 35.30 is the most for a Full Member team player.
Shivam Dube's 758 T20 runs in 2026 have come at an average of 36.09 and a strike rate of 166.96.
Afghanistan batting sensation Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored 1,004 T20 runs in 2026 at an average of 40.16 and a strike rate of 179.28.
With 193 scalps at an economy of 6.04, Rashid Khan is the highest wicket-taker in T20I history.
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