The opening clash of the Afghanistan tour of India 2026 gets underway on Sunday, September 13, as India host Afghanistan in the 1st T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. With a 7:00 PM IST start (local time in Delhi), this fixture marks the first of a three-match T20I series between the sides, all scheduled at the same venue.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to produce a batting-friendly surface with short boundaries, where even slight mis-hits can clear the fence. Pacers will need sharp execution and variations, while spinners who can control the middle overs and bowl tight lines will be crucial. Expect a high-scoring contest if both top orders fire.
As for the weather, Delhi in mid-September typically sees warm evenings with low rain risk around this time of year, so the match is likely to proceed without interruption. Fans can anticipate clear skies and comfortable conditions for a night game under lights.
This series is significant for India as they continue reshaping their T20 side after recent transitions, with Shreyas Iyer leading a refreshed squad that blends experience and youth. The return of players like Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah adds quality and stability, while young guns such as Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are eager to cement their places.
For Afghanistan, this is another chance to prove they can trouble top sides on Indian conditions, relying on their renowned spin trio and a hard-hitting top order. With Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad in the attack, plus Mohammad Nabi’s all-round craft, Afghanistan’s depth in bowling makes them dangerous even on flat decks.
IND vs AFG Match Details
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Match/League/Season: Afghanistan vs India, 1st T20I – Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
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Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
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Time: 7:00 PM IST (local time in Delhi)
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Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
IND vs AFG Live Streaming Info
- India TV channels: Sony Sports Network (mainly Sony Sports Ten 5; some matches also on Sony Sports Ten 3 and Ten 4 in Hindi/regional feeds)Free TV option: DD Sports has also been listed for free telecast in some reports
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India: Sony Sports Network (TV) + FanCode (OTT)
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Pakistan: A Sports (TV) + Tamasha (OTT)
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North America: Willow TV / Willow by Cricbuzz
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UK: JioHotstar (streaming)
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Afghanistan: Ariana TV + Etisalat digital
How to Watch the Match for Free:
Free TV: If you have a TV with an antenna or DD Free Dish, you can watch the match on DD Sports, which is a free-to-air channel listed for this series.
Live Streaming Info:
The IND vs AFG 1st match will be live on Willow TV.
Live Score Info:
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 2026: ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Current Form & Momentum
India come into this game looking to reset after back-to-back T20I series losses (Ireland and England) but with renewed confidence from a recent series win against Zimbabwe. The batting unit has shown firepower at the top, while the bowling attack retains world-class options in Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Afghanistan’s recent T20I form shows mixed results (WWLLL in their last five completed T20Is), but they remain a side capable of upsetting bigger teams, especially when their spinners dominate the middle overs. Their opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran has been a consistent platform-setter in T20 cricket.
Head-to-Head Summary (T20Is)
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Total T20Is played: 9
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India wins: 8
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Afghanistan wins: 0
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No result: 1
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First meeting: May 1, 2010 (India won)
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Most recent meeting: June 20, 2024 (India won)
India have dominated this rivalry historically, but Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack and improving batting make every encounter competitive.
Team Analysis
India
Strengths: Explosive top order, deep batting, and a balanced attack with pace and spin options. The presence of Bumrah adds a game-changing edge in death overs.
Weaknesses: Selection dilemmas in the middle order (Samson vs Kishan) and finding the right spin combination alongside Varun Chakaravarthy.
Key players: Shreyas Iyer (leadership and stability), Jasprit Bumrah (death bowling), Abhishek Sharma (powerplay aggression), and Varun Chakaravarthy (middle-overs control).
Afghanistan
Strengths: Elite spin attack, hard-hitting openers, and experienced all-rounders who can change games quickly.
Weaknesses: Batting depth beyond the top six can be tested against high-quality pace, and they have historically struggled against India in T20Is.
Key players: Rashid Khan (wicket-taking spinner), Ibrahim Zadran (anchor at the top), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (aggressive opener), and Mohammad Nabi (experience in crunch moments).
Probable Playing XIs
Probable XI (India): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan/Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
Probable XI (Afghanistan): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran (c), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
On paper, India are clear favorites given their superior head-to-head record, home advantage, and a more balanced squad. However, if Afghanistan’s spinners strike early and their top order fires, they can push this into a tight finish. Expect India to edge it by a small margin, likely defending a total in the 180–200 range or chasing comfortably if they get a good start.