India’s next T20I assignment begins on September 13, and the squad has several reasons for fans to look twice. Shreyas Iyer will captain the team against Afghanistan, Tilak Varma is vice-captain, Sanju Samson is back in the group and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also been selected.
Full three-match schedule
- 1st T20I: September 13 — Delhi
- 2nd T20I: September 15 — Delhi
- 3rd T20I: September 17 — Delhi
Afghanistan are officially the hosts for the series, but all three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Afghanistan have used India as a home base for international fixtures in recent years.
The India squad
India have named Shreyas Iyer as captain with Tilak Varma as deputy. The batting group includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, while Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar provide all-round options.
The bowling group includes Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
The four names carrying a fitness note
BCCI’s squad announcement placed an asterisk next to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, stating that their participation is subject to fitness clearance. That makes the final combination one of the key things to watch as the first T20I approaches.
Why Sanju Samson’s return matters
Samson gives India an experienced wicketkeeping and top-order option, with Ishan Kishan also selected as a wicketkeeper. The competition for batting positions will be intense because the squad also contains young, aggressive players who can change a T20 game quickly.
The Vaibhav Sooryavanshi factor
Vaibhav’s inclusion is another major point of curiosity. His selection keeps one of India’s youngest high-profile batting prospects in the senior T20I conversation and gives the team another fearless option at the top.
Why this series matters before the Asian Games
The Afghanistan series comes shortly before the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games. That gives India a compact three-match window to test combinations, assess fitness and settle roles before another major assignment.
Featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration used for representational purposes; it does not depict the confirmed playing XI.
