Table of Contents
Top Headlines
- India are facing Afghanistan in the first T20I of a three-match series in New Delhi on September 13, 2026.
- Afghanistan posted 156/8 after being sent in to bat, with Azmatullah Omarzai scoring an unbeaten 64.
- India’s Abhishek Sharma struck 82 as the hosts chased Afghanistan’s target in the first T20I.
- Jasprit Bumrah returned to India’s T20I side after receiving fitness clearance.
- Bumrah took Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s wicket and reached 350 T20 wickets during the match.
- Arshdeep Singh claimed three wickets for India during Afghanistan’s innings.
- The second and third T20Is are scheduled for September 15 and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
- Ibrahim Zadran is leading Afghanistan in his first series as the team’s full-time T20I captain.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs India
The Afghanistan national cricket team vs India series is the major cricket story today as the two teams meet in the first T20I of their three-match series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series is being played from September 13 to 17 and is an important preparation period for India ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
The opening match has already produced several notable performances. Afghanistan were asked to bat first and finished on 156 for eight, with all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai producing a valuable unbeaten 64 from 44 balls. His innings helped Afghanistan recover strongly after losing wickets during the middle overs.
India vs Afghanistan First T20I Update
India’s bowlers kept the Afghan batting lineup under pressure for much of the innings. Arshdeep Singh took three wickets, while returning fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah completed four overs for 26 runs and one wicket.
Bumrah’s return was one of the biggest talking points before the match. The fast bowler had received fitness clearance after missing recent T20I action, and his availability is particularly important with India preparing to defend its Asian Games cricket title later this month.
His comeback immediately produced a milestone. Bumrah dismissed Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz and reached 350 wickets in T20 cricket, becoming only the third Indian bowler to achieve the landmark after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Abhishek Sharma Leads India’s Chase
India’s response was led by explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who scored 82 runs. At the time of the latest live update, India had moved to 139/2 while chasing Afghanistan’s 157-run target.
The Indian batting lineup has attracted particular attention because the team management had to make selection decisions involving young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. Samson was included in the playing XI for the opening match, while Sooryavanshi was left out.
India are being led by Shreyas Iyer, who is beginning another important phase of his leadership career in T20 cricket. The series also provides the team with an opportunity to assess combinations before the Asian Games in Japan.
Afghanistan’s New T20 Leadership
Afghanistan have entered the series under the leadership of Ibrahim Zadran, who is taking charge as the country’s full-time T20I captain for the first time. The Afghanistan Cricket Board selected a squad that also includes the experienced campaigners and returning fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq.
Afghanistan have shown repeatedly that they can compete against top international teams in T20 cricket, particularly through their spin attack and aggressive middle-order batting. The current series gives the side another opportunity to challenge India in familiar Delhi conditions.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Schedule
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed that all three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi. The schedule is:
- 1st T20I: September 13, 2026
- 2nd T20I: September 15, 2026
- 3rd T20I: September 17, 2026
The series is also significant because Afghanistan have increasingly used India as a venue for their home fixtures due to infrastructure and security considerations. The two teams have developed a strong bilateral cricket relationship across all three formats.
What to Watch Next
The remaining matches will provide India with further opportunities to assess its T20 squad before the Asian Games. Bumrah’s workload, the opening combination, Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and the performances of young players will remain key talking points.
For Afghanistan, the series is an important test of Ibrahim Zadran’s leadership and the team’s ability to compete against a near full-strength Indian side.
The Afghanistan national cricket team vs India rivalry continues to grow, and the remaining T20Is on September 15 and 17 should attract significant attention from cricket fans across both countries.
