The India vs Afghanistan T20 2026 series is set to light up the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi this September, as Rashid Khan’s Afghanistan side travels to India for a three-match T20I contest. With India yet to confirm its playing group for the series and Afghanistan naming an experienced 15-man squad, fans are in for a high-octane battle between bat and ball. Here’s everything you need to know about the schedule, squads, and head-to-head record ahead of the India vs Afghanistan T20 2026 series.
India vs Afghanistan T20 2026: Full Schedule
All three T20Is of the series will be played at a single venue, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, giving both sides a chance to adapt quickly rather than travel between cities mid-series.
- 1st T20I: September 13, 2026 – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi – 7:00 PM IST
- 2nd T20I: September 15, 2026 – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi – 7:00 PM IST
- 3rd T20I: September 17, 2026 – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi – 7:00 PM IST
This T20I leg follows the longer Afghanistan tour of India earlier in the year, which featured a Test and a three-match ODI series – officially confirmed by the BCCI – meaning both squads arrive with a good sense of conditions on Indian soil. For live schedule updates and venue details, ESPNcricinfo’s series hub is a useful companion resource.
Afghanistan Squad for the T20I Series
Afghanistan have announced a well-rounded 15-member squad under the captaincy of Ibrahim Zadran, with two wicketkeeping options and a strong spin-bowling core built around Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, as first detailed by SportsDigest. Notably, pace bowlers Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai return from extended injury layoffs, adding depth to an already potent bowling attack alongside Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Afghanistan Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Naveen-ul-Haq.
India Squad for the T20I Series
At the time of writing, the BCCI selection committee has not yet announced India’s squad for the September T20Is against Afghanistan. India’s senior core has instead been occupied with the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka Test series, where Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten century has put the visitors firmly in control. India’s most recent T20I squad, per India Cricket Schedule, was picked for their tour of England and Ireland, led by Shreyas Iyer with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. We’ll update this section with India’s confirmed 15 as soon as the selectors make their call – check back closer to the series for the official squad announcement.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head Stats
India have a spotless record against Afghanistan in T20 Internationals. The two sides have met eight times since 2010, and India have won every single one – Afghanistan are yet to beat India in this format. Here’s the full match-by-match history:
| # | Date | Event | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 1, 2010 | ICC World T20 | Gros Islet, St Lucia | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2 | Sep 19, 2012 | ICC World T20 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | India won by 23 runs |
| 3 | Nov 3, 2021 | ICC T20 World Cup | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi | India won by 66 runs |
| 4 | Sep 8, 2022 | Asia Cup (Super Four) | Dubai International Stadium | India won by 101 runs |
| 5 | Jan 11, 2024 | Bilateral series, 1st T20I | PCA Stadium, Mohali | India won by 6 wickets |
| 6 | Jan 14, 2024 | Bilateral series, 2nd T20I | Holkar Stadium, Indore | India won by 6 wickets |
| 7 | Jan 17, 2024 | Bilateral series, 3rd T20I | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | India won (2nd Super Over, after both the match and the first Super Over were tied) |
| 8 | Jun 20, 2024 | ICC T20 World Cup (Super Eight) | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | India won by 47 runs |
Overall head-to-head: Matches played – 8; India won – 8; Afghanistan won – 0; No result – 0.
Of those eight meetings, only one has come as a bilateral series – the three-match series hosted in India in January 2024, which India swept 3-0, including that unforgettable double-Super-Over thriller in Bengaluru. The other five encounters have all come at multi-team ICC events: the 2010 and 2012 T20 World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 2022 Asia Cup, and the 2024 T20 World Cup. India have won every one of those tournament meetings too, so the September 2026 series will be Afghanistan’s first genuine shot at a bilateral T20I win over India on Indian soil.
That perfect record, combined with home advantage in Delhi, makes India the clear favourites on paper. But Afghanistan’s white-ball unit has matured significantly since that 2024 series – their spin attack in particular is as dangerous as any in world cricket – and a fully fit pace unit alongside Rashid Khan’s guile gives them a genuine chance of finally breaking through against India in this format.
What to Watch For
Keep an eye on how India’s think tank uses this series as a building block ahead of upcoming ICC assignments, with the white-ball pool also being managed around continental commitments like the Asian Games 2026 cricket competition. Also watch whether Afghanistan’s returning pacers can hit their straps immediately in Delhi conditions. With the venue hosting all three games, expect the surface to evolve across the series – something that could favour spinners as the T20Is progress. For more context on India’s packed 2026 calendar, see our full breakdown of the India vs Sri Lanka Test series schedule.
Stay tuned to KhelGossip for the confirmed India squad, toss updates, and ball-by-ball coverage of the India vs Afghanistan T20 2026 series.
