New Delhi. The three-match T20 series between India and Afghanistan is going to start from September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. All three matches of the series will be played on this ground and before the first match, most of the discussion is going on about the playing 11 of Team India. Captain Shreyas Iyer will have many important decisions to take. Especially the team management will have to balance the wicket-keeping opening and the all-rounder's slot. Sanju Samson has returned to the team while 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has cemented his place with his recent performances.
This series is a big opportunity for Sanju Samson to make a comeback. He was not part of the team in the T20 series against Zimbabwe but has been included in the squad against Afghanistan. His T20 International performance in 2026 has also been impressive. In such a situation, there is every possibility of him being included in the playing 11 in the first match. However, the real question is who will get the responsibility of wicketkeeping along with him in the team. Ishan Kishan is also a strong option for the team and his recent performance in domestic cricket makes him strong in the eyes of the team management.
On the other hand, it will not be easy to seat Vaibhav Suryavanshi out. At the age of just 15, Vaibhav won the title of Player of the Series by scoring two half-centuries in the T20 series against Zimbabwe. After this, he showed his batting prowess in Duleep Trophy also. After such performance, the chances of him getting a chance in the playing 11 against Afghanistan are quite strong.
Abhishek Sharma can be fielded in the opening along with Vaibhav. However, Abhishek's bat did not perform as expected in the Zimbabwe series. In such a situation, his performance will be monitored. The team also has the option of sending Sanju up. If the management fields Sanju in the opening, there may be a change in the batting order. At present, the chances of the pair of Vaibhav and Abhishek getting a chance seem high.
Captain Shreyas Iyer and vice-captain Tilak Verma seem to have strong places in the middle order. Both of them provide stability to the team's batting order and also have the ability to score runs quickly. Ishan Kishan can also be used in the middle order. With this, India can simultaneously include both Sanju and Ishaan in the playing 11.
The biggest selection issue may be regarding Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dubey. Instead of playing both together, one of them may get a chance depending on the team combination. If India needs more depth and power hitting in batting, then Shivam Dubey can prove useful. Nitish Kumar Reddy also gives the option of fast bowling along with batting. Therefore, the final decision can be taken after looking at the pitch and the team's strategy.
Jasprit Bumrah's return to bowling will be the biggest attraction. Along with them, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakraborty may get a chance while Akshar Patel will play an important role in the all-round balance of the team. The first T20 between India and Afghanistan will start at 7:30 pm on September 13.