Table of Contents
Top Headlines
- India face Afghanistan in the second T20I in Delhi on September 15, with the hosts leading the three-match series 1-0.
- India won the opening T20I by seven wickets after Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 from 32 balls.
- The ICC is closely following India’s return to T20I cricket after their 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup triumph.
- India are also celebrating their women’s Asia Cup success after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final.
- India’s women’s team secured a record eighth Asia Cup title, with Shree Charani starring with the ball.
- Shree Charani has become the first Indian bowler to cross 800 points in the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings.
- India fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the Afghanistan T20Is and 2026 Asian Games because of injury.
- Yash Thakur has been named as Rana’s replacement in both squads.
- Ravi Bishnoi remains part of India’s Afghanistan T20I squad.
- India are also preparing for a historic one-off T20I against Japan before the Asian Games.
ICC India News Today
Indian cricket remains at the centre of the latest ICC-related headlines on September 15, 2026. The men’s team is currently playing Afghanistan in Delhi, while India’s women’s side has just completed a dominant Asia Cup campaign.
The current period is particularly important for India because the men’s team is trying to regain consistency in T20 cricket after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.
India Aim to Take 2-0 Lead Against Afghanistan
India take on Afghanistan in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday. The hosts have already taken a 1-0 lead after winning the opening game by seven wickets.
Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer in the first match, scoring 82 from only 32 deliveries. His innings included seven fours and seven sixes and helped India chase Afghanistan’s 156/8 with plenty of overs remaining. Ishan Kishan also contributed 42, while Arshdeep Singh returned impressive bowling figures of 3/19.
The three-match series is being played entirely in Delhi, with the final T20I scheduled for September 17.
ICC Monitoring India’s T20I Progress
The International Cricket Council is closely following India’s progress after an uneven period following their T20 World Cup success.
ICC reporting noted that India suffered a T20I series defeat against Ireland and then lost 4-1 to England before recovering against Zimbabwe. The Afghanistan series therefore provides another opportunity for Shreyas Iyer’s side to rebuild momentum.
India are also looking ahead to the Asian Games, making the current T20I matches important for players competing for places in the squad.
Harshit Rana Ruled Out
India have suffered another injury setback, with fast bowler Harshit Rana ruled out of both the Afghanistan T20Is and the 2026 Asian Games.
Rana suffered a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7. The BCCI subsequently confirmed that Yash Thakur would replace him in both squads.
Thakur made his T20I debut during India’s Zimbabwe tour in July, taking four wickets in two matches. His inclusion gives India’s selectors another pace option ahead of the Asian Games.
Ravi Bishnoi Remains an Important Spin Option
Ravi Bishnoi continues to feature in India’s T20I plans. The leg-spinner is part of the updated Afghanistan squad alongside Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
India’s selection committee is balancing experience with emerging talent as it prepares for the next phase of international T20 cricket. Bishnoi’s ability to provide attacking leg-spin gives the team another option in different playing conditions.
India Women Win Eighth Asia Cup
India’s women’s cricket team has also produced major ICC-related headlines after winning the Women’s Asia Cup.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai. India scored 183/5 before dismissing Sri Lanka for 111, securing their eighth Asia Cup title. Smriti Mandhana scored 59, Shafali Verma made 68, and Shree Charani took four wickets.
The tournament victory has also boosted several Indian players in the latest ICC rankings.
Shree Charani Makes ICC Ranking History
Spinner Shree Charani has reached a major milestone by becoming the first Indian bowler to cross 800 points in the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings.
Her performances during India’s Asia Cup campaign played a major role in the team’s title success. The rise underlines the growing importance of India’s younger bowling talent on the international stage.
India Prepare for Asian Games
After the Afghanistan series, India’s men’s team will turn its attention toward Japan and the Asian Games. The BCCI and Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed that the Afghanistan series would be followed by India’s participation in Japan, including a historic T20I against the hosts.
The upcoming fixtures will provide further opportunities for players to establish themselves in India’s long-term white-ball plans.
