India vs Afghanistan T20I: Vaibhav Suryavanshi in Squad, Iyer to Lead

By Thetripurapost Desk, Mumbai
Sep 02, 2026
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's 15-member squad for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan, with Shreyas Iyer appointed captain and teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi retaining his place.

The India vs Afghanistan T20I series will begin on September 13, with the second match scheduled for September 15 and the third on September 17. All three games will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.

Shreyas Iyer to Lead India Against Afghanistan

Iyer will captain the Indian T20I side, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain.

The squad features a combination of established international players and emerging talent. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are among the prominent batting and wicketkeeping options.

The full India squad is:

Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gets Another India Opportunity

The continued selection of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is one of the major talking points from the announcement.

The young opener has earned another opportunity after his impressive performances in Zimbabwe. His latest selection further underlines the selectors' interest in developing him at the international level. Reuters also highlighted his recent Zimbabwe performances, where he produced two half-centuries after a difficult start to his international career.

The Tripura Post has previously covered Sooryavanshi's rapid rise and his emergence as one of India's most exciting young cricket talents.

Sanju Samson Returns to T20I Squad

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is back in India's T20I setup after missing the Zimbabwe series.

Ishan Kishan has also been selected, giving India two specialist wicketkeeping options in the squad. Samson's return is among the significant changes in the latest selection.

Jasprit Bumrah Included Subject to Fitness

Fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the squad after missing India's recent assignments.

However, Bumrah's participation is subject to fitness clearance. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana are also listed with the same fitness condition.

Bumrah had missed India's recent matches following a knee injury suffered during the ODI series in England. He was subsequently absent from the Sri Lanka assignment.

Hardik Pandya Misses Out

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has not been selected for the Afghanistan T20I series.

His absence means India will rely on other all-round options, including Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

India vs Afghanistan T20I Series Schedule

The three-match series will be played entirely in New Delhi.

1st T20I: September 13, 2026 — Arun Jaitley Stadium
2nd T20I: September 15, 2026 — Arun Jaitley Stadium
3rd T20I: September 17, 2026 — Arun Jaitley Stadium

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed that Afghanistan is the designated host for the series, despite all three matches being staged in Delhi.

India Prepare for Major Cricket Assignments

The Afghanistan series will provide India with another opportunity to assess its T20 combination, particularly with several young players competing for places alongside experienced campaigners.

The squad also broadly mirrors India's group for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, making the three-match series an important platform for players seeking to establish their positions in India's T20 setup.

With Iyer leading, Sooryavanshi continuing his international journey, Samson returning and Bumrah awaiting fitness clearance, the India vs Afghanistan T20I series is set to attract significant attention when the opening match begins on September 13.

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