India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I series will bring the two sides together for three T20 International matches in September. Afghanistan will host the series, with all three games scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. The current official schedule lists the matches for September 13, 15 and 17, 2026.
This series is an important part of Afghanistan international cricket program and will add another chapter to its growing cricket relationship with India. The two teams last played a bilateral T20I series in January 2024, while Afghanistan also toured India for a Test and three ODIs in June 2026.
In this guide, you will find the India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I schedule, match times, squads, probable playing XIs, head to head record, key players, venue details, pitch and weather updates, live score information, where to watch the matches, and the latest team news.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I Series: Schedule, Venue & Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026 |
| Format | T20 International |
| Total Matches | 3 T20Is |
| Host Team | Afghanistan |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi |
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 |
| Series Status | Officially confirmed |
The current official dates are September 13, 15 and 17. However, recent reports say the Afghanistan Cricket Board has discussed moving the series forward to September 11, 13 and 14. No revised schedule has been officially confirmed yet, so the original dates should remain the dates shown on the article until ACB or BCCI announces a change.
Afghanistan being the home team while playing in Delhi is also an important part of this series. The ACB has explained that Afghanistan has hosted home fixtures in India and the UAE in recent years, making India the chosen setting for this series.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 Full Schedule: All Three T20I Matches & Venues
The India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I series will feature three matches in September. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed that all three games will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. Afghanistan will be the designated host for the series, although the matches will take place in India.
The current official schedule starts with the first T20I on September 13, followed by the second match on September 15 and the third on September 17, 2026. The series is part of Afghanistan's Future Tours Program and gives both teams another chance to meet in T20I cricket after their previous bilateral T20I series in January 2024.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I Match Schedule
| Match | Date | Day | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 | Sunday | Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 | Tuesday | Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 | Thursday | Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi |
The ACB has confirmed that the same venue will host all three T20Is, so there will be no travel between cities during the series. This can also make the conditions more consistent across the three matches, although the pitch and weather can still affect each game.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 Squads: Players Selected for the T20I Series
India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I series will feature three matches in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. However, as of August 24, 2026, the final squads for this specific T20I series have not yet been officially announced by either the BCCI or the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). The series itself has been officially confirmed by both boards.
Because the squads are not confirmed yet, it would be better not to publish a guessed squad as the final team list. Instead, this section should clearly separate confirmed information from players who could be considered for selection.
India T20I Squad for the Afghanistan Series
India's final squad for the September T20Is is still awaited. The selection is likely to be closely watched because India has already named a T20I squad for the 2026 Asian Games, giving us a useful look at several players who are currently part of India's T20 plans.
The announced Asian Games T20I group includes Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah.
However, these players should not automatically be listed as the confirmed Afghanistan series squad. The BCCI may make changes before the September T20Is depending on workload, availability, form and team plans.
Once the official squad is announced, this section should be updated with:
- Captain and vice-captain
- Wicketkeepers
- Opening batters
- Middle-order batters
- All-rounders
- Fast bowlers
- Spin bowlers
- Reserves, if announced
Afghanistan T20I Squad for the India Series
Afghanistan's final squad for the three-match series is also yet to be officially announced as of August 24.
Afghanistan already has a strong group of T20 players. Its squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup was led by Rashid Khan, with players including Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
These names can be discussed as players to watch or possible selections, but they should not be presented as Afghanistan's confirmed September squad until the ACB makes its official announcement.
When Will the Final Squads Be Confirmed?
The most important update for this section will be the official squad announcements from the BCCI and ACB.
For now, the article should use wording such as:
“The final India and Afghanistan squads for the September 2026 T20I series are yet to be announced.”
This is much safer than creating a probable squad and presenting it as confirmed information.
As soon as the squads are announced, this section can become one of the strongest parts of the article by adding player roles, recent form, captaincy, injuries, selection changes and probable playing XIs.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 Squad Update
Current status:
| Team | Squad Status | Key Information |
|---|---|---|
| India | Not officially announced | India has already named a separate T20I squad for the Asian Games |
| Afghanistan | Not officially announced | Rashid Khan led Afghanistan at the 2026 T20 World Cup |
| Series | Confirmed | 3 T20Is |
| Dates | Confirmed | September 13, 15 & 17, 2026 |
| Venue | Confirmed | Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, Delhi |
The BCCI has confirmed that the series is part of Afghanistan's Future Tours Programme and that all three matches will be played in Delhi.
India vs Afghanistan Probable Playing XI for Each 2026 T20I Match
The final playing XIs for the India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I series cannot be confirmed yet because the teams have not announced their match-day XIs. The three T20Is are scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi.
For now, the best approach is to use probable playing XIs based on the players currently in the teams' T20 plans. These predictions should be updated after the final squads, injuries, team news and pitch conditions are known.
India Probable Playing XI for the 2026 T20I Series
India's recent T20 selection gives us a useful starting point. The BCCI's June 2026 selections for the England T20Is and Asian Games included Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Based on that group, a possible India XI could look like this:
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | Opening batter |
| 2 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Opening batter |
| 3 | Tilak Varma | Middle-order batter |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer | Batter |
| 5 | Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| 6 | Shivam Dube | All-rounder |
| 7 | Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| 8 | Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| 9 | Jasprit Bumrah | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Varun Chakaravarthy | Spinner |
This is only a probable XI, not India's confirmed team. The final combination could change depending on player availability and the team's plans for the series.
Afghanistan Probable Playing XI for the 2026 T20Is
Afghanistan also has several experienced T20 players who could play an important role in Delhi. Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi have been important parts of Afghanistan's recent T20 setup.
A possible Afghanistan XI could be:
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Opening batter |
| 2 | Ibrahim Zadran | Opening batter |
| 3 | Sediqullah Atal | Top-order batter |
| 4 | Azmatullah Omarzai | All-rounder |
| 5 | Mohammad Nabi | All-rounder |
| 6 | Najibullah Zadran | Middle-order batter |
| 7 | Rashid Khan | All-rounder/Spinner |
| 8 | Noor Ahmad | Left-arm spinner |
| 9 | Naveen-ul-Haq | Fast bowler |
| 10 | Fazalhaq Farooqi | Fast bowler |
| 11 | Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Spinner |
Again, this should be treated as a prediction rather than a confirmed XI. The ACB's final squad and match-day selection will decide which players actually take the field.
How the Playing XI Could Change Across the Three Matches
The playing XIs do not necessarily have to remain the same throughout the series. If one team wins the first match comfortably, it may keep the same combination for the second T20I. If a player struggles or the pitch offers more help to spin or pace, the teams could make changes.
The three matches are all being played at the same Delhi venue, so conditions should be easier for both sides to understand after the opening game.
For example, India could consider adding another spinner if the pitch becomes slower, while Afghanistan could change its batting order or bowling combination depending on India's approach.
India vs Afghanistan Probable XI: What to Watch
The biggest selection battles will likely be around the opening pair, middle order and bowling combination.
For India, the balance between batting depth and spin options will be important. Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar can also offer useful bowling options, giving India more flexibility.
Afghanistan's biggest strength is likely to come from its spin attack and experienced T20 players. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad can create problems for India's middle order, while Afghanistan's fast bowlers can give the team options with the new and old ball.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Record Before September 2026
India have a perfect T20I record against Afghanistan, with India winning all eight completed T20I meetings between the two teams. Afghanistan are still waiting for their first T20I win against India. The two sides have played eight T20Is, with the most recent meeting coming in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Summary
| Head-to-Head | India | Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| T20I Matches | 8 | 8 |
| Wins | 8 | 0 |
| Losses | 0 | 8 |
| Ties | 0* | 0* |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
| First T20I Meeting | 2010 | 2010 |
| Most Recent T20I | June 20, 2024 | June 20, 2024 |
*The January 17, 2024 T20I in Bengaluru finished level after both teams scored 212 in the regulation innings, but India won the Super Over. Cricket records therefore count it as an India win rather than a tied match.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Match Results
The two teams first met in T20I cricket at the 2010 T20 World Cup. India won that match by seven wickets. Since then, India have continued to dominate the head-to-head record.
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2010 | T20 World Cup | India won by 7 wickets |
| September 19, 2012 | T20 World Cup | India won by 23 runs |
| November 3, 2021 | T20 World Cup | India won by 66 runs |
| September 8, 2022 | Asia Cup | India won by 101 runs |
| January 11, 2024 | Bilateral T20I | India won by 6 wickets |
| January 14, 2024 | Bilateral T20I | India won by 6 wickets |
| January 17, 2024 | Bilateral T20I | India won Super Over |
| June 20, 2024 | T20 World Cup | India won by 47 runs |
The January 2024 series was especially important because it was the first bilateral T20I series between India and Afghanistan. India won all three matches, with the final game going into a Super Over after both teams scored 212.
India Won the Last T20I Against Afghanistan
The most recent T20I between the teams was played on June 20, 2024, during the T20 World Cup in Bridgetown, Barbados.
India scored 181/8, while Afghanistan were bowled out for 134. India won by 47 runs. This gave India their eighth T20I win against Afghanistan.
That result also means Afghanistan have never beaten India in a completed T20I before the September 2026 series.
India vs Afghanistan in T20 World Cup Matches
The teams have also met several times in the T20 World Cup. India won each of their T20 World Cup meetings, including the 2024 Super 8 match.
India's strong record in this competition adds another interesting point to the September 2026 series, although past results do not guarantee what will happen in the new matches.
The Closest T20I Between India and Afghanistan
The January 17, 2024 match in Bengaluru remains the most dramatic T20I between the two teams.
Both sides scored 212 runs in their main innings. The match went to a Super Over, where India eventually won. Afghanistan came very close to recording their first win over India, but India kept their unbeaten record intact.
What the Head-to-Head Record Means for the 2026 Series
India clearly have the better historical record, but Afghanistan should not be treated as an easy opponent.
Afghanistan have developed into a strong T20 team, especially through their spin bowling and experienced players. The presence of players such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and other T20 specialists gives Afghanistan the ability to challenge India in this format. Afghanistan's 2026 T20 World Cup squad was again built around a strong mix of experienced players and young talent.
So, while the head-to-head record gives India a major advantage, the 2026 series will be a new contest. The Delhi pitch, team selection, player form and match-day conditions could all have a bigger effect than older results.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I Prediction: Team Strengths, Form & Match Factors
India will start the India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I series as the stronger side on paper, but Afghanistan have enough T20 experience to make the contest competitive. The three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17, giving both teams the same venue and similar playing conditions across the series.
India also have the advantage of a strong recent T20 setup. The BCCI's 2026 T20I selections have included players such as Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, have a very dangerous T20 core built around players such as Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Most of these players were also part of Afghanistan's 2026 T20 World Cup squad.
India's Main Strengths Against Afghanistan
India's biggest advantage is their depth. They can build a strong batting order while still having several players who can contribute with the ball.
Abhishek Sharma can give India a fast start at the top, while players such as Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson provide options in the middle order. India can also add more batting depth through all-rounders such as Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
India's bowling attack is another major strength. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh give the team experienced pace options, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi provide spin choices. The exact combination will depend on the final squad and the Delhi pitch.
India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I Series Frequently Asked Questions
When will India play Afghanistan in the 2026 T20I series?
India will play Afghanistan in three T20Is on September 13, 15 and 17, 2026, with all matches scheduled in Delhi.
Where will the India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20Is be played?
All three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi, India.
What time will India vs Afghanistan matches start in Pakistan?
The matches are currently scheduled as 7:00 PM IST, which is 6:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PKT).
Where can fans watch India vs Afghanistan 2026 live?
Fans in India can watch the series live on FanCode, which has the digital streaming rights for the three T20Is.
How many T20I matches will India and Afghanistan play in 2026?
India and Afghanistan are scheduled to play three T20I matches in the September 2026 series.
What is India's T20I head-to-head record against Afghanistan?
India have won all eight completed T20I matches against Afghanistan before the 2026 series.