Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026 – Schedule, Squad, Match Timings, Venue
The Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026 is taking place from September 13 to September 17, 2026, with three Twenty20 Internationals scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Although the matches are being staged in India, Afghanistan are officially the host team for this bilateral series. The Afghanistan Cricket Board regularly uses venues outside Afghanistan for its home international matches, and the September series is part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Programme.
The series began on September 13, when India produced a dominant seven-wicket victory in the opening T20I. The second match takes place on September 15, followed by the series finale on September 17.
As of September 15, India lead the three-match series 1-0.
Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026 Overview
| Series Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026 |
| Teams | Afghanistan and India |
| Format | T20 International |
| Total Matches | 3 T20Is |
| Start Date | September 13, 2026 |
| End Date | September 17, 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Official Host | Afghanistan |
| India Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Afghanistan Captain | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Current Series Score | India lead 1-0* |
*Series status as of September 15, 2026.
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran is captaining the team in what is his first assignment as the country’s full-time T20I captain, while Shreyas Iyer has been selected to lead India.
Afghanistan vs India T20I 2026 Schedule
All three matches are being played at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
| Match | Date | Time | Venue | Status/Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Scheduled |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 | 7:30 PM IST | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Scheduled |
The Afghanistan Cricket Board and BCCI officially confirmed the match dates as September 13, 15 and 17. The second and third matches are scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss expected around 7 PM.
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I 2026 Result
Date: September 13, 2026
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Result: India won by 7 wickets
India opened the series in impressive fashion.
Afghanistan were asked to bat first but suffered an early collapse before recovering to post 156/8 in 20 overs.
India then chased the 157-run target in only 13.4 overs, finishing on 157/3 to secure a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
1st T20I Scorecard Summary
Afghanistan – 156/8 (20 overs)
Azmatullah Omarzai – 64
Mohammad Nabi – 33
Arshdeep Singh – 3/19
India – 157/3 (13.4 overs)
Abhishek Sharma – 82
Ishan Kishan – 42
India won by seven wickets.
Abhishek Sharma Smashes 82 From 32 Balls
The biggest performance of the first match came from Abhishek Sharma.
The Indian opener smashed 82 runs from only 32 deliveries, turning the run chase into a one-sided contest.
Abhishek reached his half-century in only 22 balls and continued attacking Afghanistan’s bowling attack throughout the Powerplay and middle overs.
Ishan Kishan provided strong support with 42 from 33 balls, allowing India to chase the target with 38 deliveries remaining.
Azmatullah Omarzai Leads Afghanistan’s Recovery
Afghanistan’s innings had started badly.
India reduced the hosts to a difficult position after several early wickets, but Azmatullah Omarzai led an impressive recovery.
Omarzai scored 64, while veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi contributed 33. Their partnership helped Afghanistan recover sufficiently to reach 156/8.
However, the total proved insufficient against India’s aggressive batting lineup.
Arshdeep Singh Takes Three Wickets
Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was India’s most successful bowler in the series opener.
He finished with excellent figures of:
3 wickets for 19 runs
Jasprit Bumrah also made an immediate impact by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck early in Afghanistan’s innings.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I – September 15
The second T20I takes place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Match: Afghanistan vs India – 2nd T20I
Date: September 15, 2026
Toss: Around 7:00 PM IST
Match Start: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Series Position: India lead 1-0
India can seal the series with another victory, while Afghanistan need to win to keep the three-match contest alive.
Big Blow for India Ahead of Second T20I
India received a setback ahead of the second game when spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out of the remaining Afghanistan T20Is after suffering a side strain.
Ravi Bishnoi is among the options available to replace him in the playing XI.
India may also need to decide whether to continue with Sanju Samson alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order or give young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I – September 17
The third and final match will be played on:
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
The match could either become a series decider or give India an opportunity to complete a clean sweep, depending on the result of the second T20I.
India Squad for Afghanistan T20I Series 2026
Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson [WK], Ishan Kishan [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
Afghanistan Squad for India T20I Series 2026
Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq.
Ibrahim Zadran’s appointment is particularly significant because this is his first series as Afghanistan’s full-time T20I captain.
Naveen-ul-Haq Returns to Afghanistan Team
Another major development for Afghanistan is the return of fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq.
Naveen returned to the national setup after recovering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder, which had kept him out of previous international assignments including the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
His return strengthens a bowling attack that also features:
- Rashid Khan
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Noor Ahmad
- Azmatullah Omarzai
That gives Afghanistan plenty of variation in both pace and spin.
Key Indian Players to Watch
Abhishek Sharma
After his explosive 82 in the opening match, Abhishek is already one of the standout players of the series.
His ability to attack during the Powerplay makes him particularly dangerous at a high-scoring ground such as Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is leading India during the series.
The matches provide another important leadership opportunity ahead of India’s upcoming international commitments.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah returned to the T20I setup for this series and immediately struck in the opening match by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
His experience remains an important weapon for India’s bowling attack.
Sanju Samson
Samson remains one of the most discussed players in India’s squad.
With young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi pushing for an opportunity, runs during the Afghanistan series could be important for Samson’s place in the side.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is another player fans will be watching closely.
Although he was not part of India’s playing XI in the opening game, his inclusion in the squad gives India another aggressive top-order option.
Afghanistan Players to Watch
Rashid Khan
Rashid remains Afghanistan’s biggest global cricket star.
His experience in Indian conditions and ability to take wickets in the middle overs make him a major threat.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Gurbaz is one of Afghanistan’s most aggressive opening batters.
He failed in the opening T20I but is capable of dramatically changing a match when he gets going.
Azmatullah Omarzai
Omarzai demonstrated his value immediately with 64 in the first T20I.
His ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives Afghanistan considerable flexibility.
Mohammad Nabi
Veteran Mohammad Nabi continues to play an important all-round role.
He scored 33 in Afghanistan’s first-match recovery and also picked up two wickets during India’s chase.
Naveen-ul-Haq
The returning fast bowler provides Afghanistan with another specialist death-over option and extensive franchise T20 experience.
Arun Jaitley Stadium – Venue Guide
All three matches are taking place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The stadium is one of India’s most historic cricket venues and regularly hosts international matches and Indian Premier League games.
For this series, keeping every match at the same ground reduces travel requirements for both teams while allowing Delhi fans to watch an entire bilateral T20I series.
BCCI and ACB confirmed that the Arun Jaitley Stadium would host all three fixtures from September 13–17.
Who Is Hosting the India vs Afghanistan T20 Series?
This is one area that can cause confusion.
The matches are being played in India, but Afghanistan are officially the home team and designated hosts.
The series therefore officially appears as:
Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026
rather than a conventional Indian home series.
Afghanistan have staged home international cricket in India and the UAE on a number of occasions.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Record
India entered the second match with an outstanding record against Afghanistan.
After the opening T20I of this series, the two teams had met 10 times in T20 Internationals.
| Head-to-Head | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 10 |
| India wins, including Super Over victory | 9 |
| Afghanistan wins | 0 |
| No Result | 1 |
Afghanistan are still searching for their first T20I victory over India. One of the teams’ most memorable meetings came in Bengaluru in January 2024, when two Super Overs were needed to separate them.
Where to Watch India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026
For viewers in India, the second T20I is scheduled to be:
TV: Sony Sports Network
Live Streaming: FanCode app and website
The Afghanistan Cricket Board also lists FanCode as its official streaming partner for the series in India.
Broadcast arrangements can vary by country, so international viewers should check their local rights holder before each match.
Why This T20I Series Is Important
The September series forms another chapter in the growing cricket relationship between India and Afghanistan.
The teams had already met in a Test and three ODIs during Afghanistan’s June 2026 visit to India.
The September T20 matches mean that India and Afghanistan have now competed against one another across all three major international formats during 2026.
For India, the matches are also part of preparations ahead of the Asian Games in Japan, making selection and player form particularly important.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, have an opportunity to test themselves against the reigning 2026 T20 World Cup champions and attempt to record their first T20I victory over India.
Afghanistan vs India T20I 2026 FAQs
When is the Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026?
The three matches are scheduled for September 13, September 15 and September 17, 2026.
Where is the India vs Afghanistan T20 series being played?
All three matches are being played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India.
What time does India vs Afghanistan T20I start?
The second and third T20Is are scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss expected around 7 PM.
Who is India’s captain against Afghanistan?
Shreyas Iyer is India’s captain for the series.
Who is Afghanistan’s T20I captain?
Ibrahim Zadran is captaining Afghanistan and is beginning his tenure as the team’s full-time T20I captain.
Who won the first India vs Afghanistan T20I in 2026?
India won the first match by seven wickets after chasing Afghanistan’s 157-run target in 13.4 overs.
How many runs did Abhishek Sharma score in the first T20I?
Abhishek Sharma scored 82 runs from 32 balls.
When is India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I?
The second T20I is scheduled for September 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST in New Delhi.
When is the third T20I?
The third and final match is scheduled for September 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM IST at the same venue.
Who is leading the series?
As of September 15, India lead 1-0 following their seven-wicket victory in the opening T20I.
Final Words
The Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026 promises plenty of entertainment as the teams compete across three matches in Delhi from September 13 to 17.
India made the perfect start with a dominant seven-wicket victory in the first T20I, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 82 from 32 balls and Arshdeep Singh’s three-wicket spell.
Attention now turns to the second T20I on September 15, where Shreyas Iyer’s India can secure the series with another victory. Afghanistan, led by Ibrahim Zadran and featuring stars such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai, will be looking to level the contest.
With the final scheduled for September 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, cricket fans still have two important matches to look forward to in this short but fascinating T20I series.
Because the 2nd T20I is scheduled for tonight, September 15, I can also update this article with the 2nd T20I result, scorecard and series winner once the result is available.
