The BCCI has named the India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026. The three-match series will run from September 13 to September 17, 2026, in New Delhi.
Shreyas Iyer has been picked as captain. Sanju Samson is back in the T20I group after recovering from an injury.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi keeps his spot too. His recent form in Zimbabwe and the Duleep Trophy impressed selectors.
Hardik Pandya will not be part of the squad due to injury. Jasprit Bumrah is included, but only if he passes the fitness check. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Washington Sundar are also listed, with clearance required.
This piece lists the India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026 in full. It also notes the schedule, captain, a likely playing XI, players left out, injury updates, and how to watch the matches.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026: BCCI Names Team
BCCI has announced the India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad for the 2026 T20I series against Afghanistan. The squad is built around 15 players for three T20 matches. Sanju Samson and Varun Chakaravarthy are back in the group. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi keeps the momentum and stays in the mix.
Hardik Pandya is not part of the squad. The reason given is that he is still dealing with a leg injury. Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar have been picked but only after fitness checks.
India Squad Overview
| Series Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026 |
| Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Vice-Captain | Tilak Varma |
| Matches | 3 T20 Internationals |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Series Dates | 13, 15 & 17 September 2026 |
India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026 – Full Team List
Team India Full Squad
| Player | Role |
|---|
| Shreyas Iyer (Captain) | Top-order Batter |
| Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain) | Middle-order Batter |
| Abhishek Sharma | Opening Batter / Spin All-rounder |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Opening Batter |
| Sanju Samson (WK) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Ishan Kishan (WK) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Shivam Dube | Batting All-rounder |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy* | Pace All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | Spin All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar* | Spin All-rounder |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Mystery Spinner |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Leg Spinner |
| Jasprit Bumrah* | Fast Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Left-arm Fast Bowler |
| Harshit Rana* | Fast Bowler |
Players Returning to Team India
| Player | Reason for Return |
|---|---|
| Sanju Samson | Returns after recovering from injury. |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Back after regaining fitness. |
| Jasprit Bumrah* | Included subject to medical clearance. |
| Washington Sundar* | Fitness clearance pending. |
Sanju Samson returns, adding another wicketkeeping option for India, with Ishan Kishan also in the team.
Hardik Pandya Misses India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026
A key point in the announcement is Hardik Pandya missing the India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026.
He is said to be recovering from a new leg issue. The injury was picked up during rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Reports add that he has paused bowling for now, as part of the recovery plan, so he is not available for selection.
Hardik Pandya Injury Status
Current Status
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Status | Recovering at BCCI Centre of Excellence |
| Issue | Fresh leg discomfort |
| Bowling | Temporarily paused |
| Series Availability | Unavailabl |
Add this sentence naturally:
For the latest medical reports, read our Hardik Pandya Injury Update Today article.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gets Another India Chance
The best part of this update is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi being picked again.
He is still in the XI after a strong stretch. In Zimbabwe he did well in the T20Is. Then came the Duleep Trophy semifinal. In that match he made 92 runs. He also turned into the youngest player to reach a half-century in the Duleep Trophy.
Why He Made the Squad
- Good showing in the Zimbabwe T20Is.
- Solid season in domestic cricket.
- A Duleep Trophy knock that set records.
- Quick, attacking batting in the powerplay.
Send readers to:
Read our Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Duleep Trophy Record Today article for his latest historic innings.
Shreyas Iyer gets the India captain role
The BCCI has named Shreyas Iyer as captain.
Tilak Varma is picked as vice-captain.
This move points to India keeping an eye on the next steps in T20 cricket.
Leadership Group
| Role | Player |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Vice-Captain | Tilak Varm |
Iyer is back in the top job after captaining India in earlier white-ball matches.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026 Schedule
Afghanistan Cricket Board is listed as the official host. Even so, every match will take place in New Delhi.
Full Schedule
| T20I | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | 13 September 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:00 PM |
| 2nd T20I | 15 September 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:00 PM |
| 3rd T20I | 17 September 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:0 |
Note: All three games are set at the same stadium in New Delhi.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026: Predicted Playing XI
From the squad that was shared, here is what looks like the best XI for India.
Predicted India Playing XI
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | Opener |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Opener |
| Shreyas Iyer (Captain) | No. 3 Batter |
| Tilak Varma | Middle Order |
| Sanju Samson (WK) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Shivam Dube | Batting All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | Spin All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar* | All-rounder |
| Jasprit Bumrah* | Fast Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Fast Bowler |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Mystery Spinner |
This group can hit hard with the bat and also has several bowling choices.
Players Selected Subject to Fitness Clearance
Four players were picked, but each has a medical note.
Fitness Watch
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | Fitness clearance pending |
| Harshit Rana | Fitness clearance pending |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Fitness clearance pending |
| Washington Sundar | Fitness clearance pendin |
The BCCI will decide at the last moment before the series starts.
So, India’s final XI could shift before the opener.
Afghanistan squad for the T20I series in 2026
Afghanistan have named a solid group, with Rashid Khan set to lead.
Key players for Afghanistan
- Rashid Khan, captain
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Noor Ahmad
- Mohammad Nabi
- Gulbadin Naib
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Naveen-ul-Haq
India will have to deal with one of the best spin lineups in T20 cricket.
Players to Watch in India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026
Five Biggest Players
| Player | Why to Watch |
|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Young batting sensation |
| Sanju Samson | Comeback series |
| Shreyas Iyer | Captaincy and batting |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan’s biggest match-winner |
| Jasprit Bumrah* | Fitness-dependent return |
This T20I run should deliver multiple head-to-head moments.
Why This Series Matters for Team India
The Afghanistan series will help India plan better for the Asian Games and the next T20 tournaments.
India has a few key goals
- Try a young pair at the start of the innings.
- Check how fit Bumrah is.
- Hand more leadership duties to Shreyas Iyer.
- Keep growing India’s T20 squad options.
The selectors will watch every performance in this series closely.
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report
Delhi has often played fast, run-filled T20 games.
Pitch Report
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Batting | Excellent batting surface |
| Spin | Spinners become effective in middle overs |
| Average First Innings Score | 175–190 |
| Best Strategy | Chasing slightly preferred in evening conditions |
If you win the toss, chasing can work well in the evening.
You should see lots of boundary chances across the three matches.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Match History
India have often been the stronger side against Afghanistan in T20 internationals.
Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | India lead overall head-to-head |
| India Wins | Majority of matches |
| Afghanistan Wins | Very few victories |
| Last T20 Meeting | India won comfortably |
Afghanistan are still a threat, mainly due to their spin bowling.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026 – Complete Team Table
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shreyas Iyer |
| Vice-Captain | Tilak Varma |
| Wicketkeepers | Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan |
| Batters | Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma |
| All-Rounders | Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Washington Sundar* |
| Spinners | Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi |
| Fast Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana* |
| Unavailable | Hardik Pandya (Injury) |
FAQs – India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026
1) Who is India’s captain for the Afghanistan T20I series in 2026?
Shreyas Iyer is set to captain the side. Tilak Varma will serve as vice-captain.
2) Is Hardik Pandya part of the India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026?
No. Hardik Pandya is not in the squad because he is still recovering from a leg injury.
3) Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s T20 squad?
Vaibhav kept his spot after strong shows in Zimbabwe and in domestic cricket. This includes his standout, record Duleep Trophy innings.
4) Will Jasprit Bumrah play against Afghanistan?
He is picked, but he must pass the fitness check before the series starts.
5) Where will the India vs Afghanistan T20I series 2026 take place?
The three matches are scheduled at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The dates are 13 to 17 September 2026.
Conclusion
India’s India vs Afghanistan T20I Squad 2026 looks balanced. It has proven players and also fresh faces. Shreyas Iyer will lead the team. Sanju Samson is back after injury. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains on a strong path, as he keeps drawing attention in Indian cricket.
Hardik Pandya will stay out due to his injury. Jasprit Bumrah is also dependent on fitness approval. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana will need final clearance as well.
These three T20Is in New Delhi give Team India a chance to try different combinations. It is also a good moment for young players to get another run on the international stage, ahead of future white-ball events.
