New Delhi, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : India and Afghanistan are gearing up for the first match of their three-match T20 International series, scheduled for Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Both teams are looking to enhance their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Afghanistan is hosting the entire series, with the subsequent T20 matches also taking place at the same venue. India enters the first match with a strong track record against Afghanistan in this format, having faced them nine times previously — winning eight and drawing one without a result.
After a tumultuous start to the new T20 cycle, the Indian team aims for a positive beginning in the series. They recently suffered defeats against Ireland and England but showcased impressive performances against Zimbabwe. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the team is focused on starting the series with a victory.
The Indian squad features a blend of seasoned players and emerging talents. Key players include Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Jasprit Bumrah, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryaanshi, who made his international debut on the recent tour of England, is also expected to draw attention.
The Afghanistan team, led by Ibrahim Zadran, boasts several players capable of turning the game. With significant international experience, Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi are among the standout names. This first T20 International will provide both teams an opportunity to test their combinations ahead of the Asian Games.
The first T20 match between India and Afghanistan will take place on Sunday, September 13, at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. The match is set to begin at 7 PM IST, with the toss occurring half an hour prior.
Fans can catch the live broadcast of the match on Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on both the FanCode app and website.
The Indian team lineup includes: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryaanshi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dubey, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Yash Thakur.
The Afghanistan squad features: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Noor Rahman (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, and Naveen-ul-Haq.
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