AFG vs IND Match Preview: India and Afghanistan kick off their three-match T20I series today at the historic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. With Shreyas Iyer taking the helm for the Men in Blue and Ibrahim Zadran leading a fearless Afghan contingent, the series opener promises high-octane T20 action on a traditionally high-scoring surface.
Match Details
- Match: Afghanistan (AFG) vs India (IND), 1st T20I
- Series: Afghanistan vs India in India 2026
- Date: Today (September 13, 2026)
- Time: 7:30 PM IST | 2:00 PM GMT
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Live Streaming & Broadcast (India): FanCode (Streaming), Sony Sports Network (TV)
Match Preview
India
India arrives with a dynamic, explosive squad led by Shreyas Iyer. The top order boasts serious firepower with Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive intent in the powerplay will be crucial against Afghanistan’s potent new-ball pair.
In the middle order, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube bring power-hitting capabilities, complemented by the all-round balance of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. The bowling attack looks exceptionally sharp: Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace battery alongside Arshdeep Singh, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi provide wicket-taking spin options suited to Delhi’s short boundaries.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan continues to evolve into a T20 heavyweight. Led by Ibrahim Zadran, their batting features the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top, supported by Sediqullah Atal and the steady Darwish Rasooli. The experienced middle order—comprising Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, and Azmatullah Omarzai—provides stability and power-hitting down the order.
Afghanistan’s greatest weapon remains its world-class spin arsenal: Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. How well they bowl during the middle overs against India’s aggressive stroke-makers will define the contest. Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi will look to make early inroads with the new ball.
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch Report (Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi)
The track at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has evolved into a batting paradise in recent seasons.
- Boundaries & Conditions: The relatively short boundaries (63m–67m square and straight) invite aggressive strokeplay. The ball comes onto the bat nicely under lights.
- Spin & Variation: While spinners will find slight grip in the middle overs, maintaining discipline will be tough due to the ground dimensions.
- Toss Factor: Chasing is strongly favored at this venue. Evening dew typically settles in during the second innings, making grip challenging for bowlers and giving an edge to the side batting second. The toss winner will likely elect to bowl first.
Weather Report
Delhi’s evening conditions are expected to be warm and humid, with temperatures hovering around 28°C–31°C during match hours. Cloud cover is minimal, with zero chance of rain interruptions, ensuring a full 40-over contest.
Probable Playing XIs
India
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi.
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Dream11 Fantasy Picks
- Top Captaincy Picks:
- Abhishek Sharma (IND): Highly explosive powerplay batter who can quickly post a 50+ score on Delhi’s short boundaries, plus provide handy overs if required.
- Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG): Genuine three-dimensional cricketer who bowls crucial overs and bats aggressively in the middle order.
- Top Vice-Captaincy Picks:
- Jasprit Bumrah (IND): The ultimate death-overs specialist; virtually unplayable and guarantees high-value wickets.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): Wicketkeeper-batter capable of single-handedly setting the tempo at the top of the order.
Suggested Dream11 Team (Head-to-Head & Small Leagues)
- Wicketkeepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ishan Kishan
- Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Ibrahim Zadran
- All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma (C), Axar Patel, Azmatullah Omarzai (VC)
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Rashid Khan, Arshdeep Singh
Match Prediction
While Afghanistan’s spin attack and fearless batting present a stern challenge, India’s sheer depth in batting, home-ground familiarity, and elite pace pairing of Bumrah and Arshdeep give them a decisive advantage.
Prediction: India starts as the favorites to secure a win in the 1st T20I and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
