NEW DELHI: India and Afghanistan are set to begin their three-match T20I series on Sunday, with the opening match scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series opener marks another important phase for India’s T20 side as captain Shreyas Iyer leads the team into a new campaign ahead of the upcoming Asian Games.
The three-match series will be played entirely in Delhi, with the second and third T20Is scheduled for September 15 and 17 respectively. The Afghanistan Cricket Board and the BCCI confirmed the series as part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Programme.
Shreyas Iyer Leads India
Iyer takes charge of an Indian side that combines established international experience with a strong group of emerging players.
The BCCI’s squad includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, along with Harshit Rana, subject to fitness clearance.
The selection gives India several options in both the batting and bowling departments, but the opening combination and wicketkeeping position remain among the key selection calls ahead of the first match.
Youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also one of the players attracting considerable attention. His inclusion provides India with another aggressive batting option at the top of the order.
Afghanistan Pose a Strong Challenge
Afghanistan arrive with a squad capable of putting pressure on India’s batting line-up, particularly through their world-class spin resources.
Captain Ibrahim Zadran leads a squad featuring experienced campaigners including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Rashid remains one of Afghanistan’s biggest match-winners in T20 cricket. His ability to control the middle overs and contribute with the bat makes him a major factor in the contest.
Gurbaz, meanwhile, provides Afghanistan with an aggressive option at the top of the order, while Farooqi’s left-arm pace could test India’s batters during the powerplay.
Bumrah’s Game Time in Focus
One of the major talking points ahead of the opener is the availability and workload of Jasprit Bumrah.
India captain Shreyas Iyer said Bumrah needs regular game time, making his participation an important part of India’s preparations.
India will also be monitoring the fitness of several players, with the BCCI squad announcement noting fitness clearances for some members of the group.
Series Comes With Added Context
The Afghanistan-India series comes at an unusual time for the Indian team. India are officially the visiting side for this series, despite all three matches being played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, as Afghanistan are designated as the hosts.
The series also arrives amid significant activity in the capital surrounding the BRICS Summit. There had been speculation about whether the opening match would be postponed because of security and traffic restrictions, but the Delhi & District Cricket Association confirmed that the match would go ahead as scheduled.
The first T20I is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST, with the remaining matches to follow on September 15 and 17 at the same venue.
With a new captain, emerging young talent and a strong Afghanistan side on the other side, the opening encounter promises an intriguing start to the three-match series.
For India, the immediate objective will be to begin the campaign with a win. For Afghanistan, the challenge will be to use their experienced T20 core and formidable spin attack to put the hosts under pressure in Delhi.
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