AFG vs IND, 1st T20I: India’s Predicted Playing XI

India are set to take on Afghanistan in the first of three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, on Sunday, September 13. Despite playing at home, the team in blue will be playing as visitors in this series due to security concerns over hosting matches in Afghanistan.

The three-match series will serve as a preparation run ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, where the reigning T20 World Cup champions will enter as favourites. The series offers a platform for the Indian team to get their combinations right before they embark on the quest for yet another laurel.

Here is India’s predicted XI for 1st T20I vs Afghanistan:

Top order: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk)

The prodigious 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally looked to have found his footing in international cricket with half-century scores against Zimbabwe after a torrid start to life in blue against England. The young southpaw’s enigmatic batting has taken the cricketing world by storm, and he will be looking to have a big series with the bat. He will be partnered up top by fellow southpaw big-hitter Abhishek Sharma, who will play the role of the experienced campaigner at the top.

Ishan Kishan is once more expected to take up the gloves and bat at one drop. The left-hander has made the position his own after a brilliant showing in the T20 World Cup and will take the gloves in the absence of Sanju Samson. Comes into the series in fine batting form, winning the Duleep Trophy with East Zone and scoring a mammoth 280 in the final.

Middle order: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy

Captain Shreyas Iyer secured his first series win with India against Zimbabwe after a horror tour of England and Ireland. His role in the middle order will be vital, and he will be looking to continue his form from the England series with the bat. Tilak Varma will slot into the middle order and is in great batting form with runs for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, finishing as the Player of the Tournament.

Shivam Dube will slot in as the side’s finisher and can also contribute with the ball. He can also promote himself up the order as a potent spin-hitter. Nitish Kumar Reddy will slot in as the side’s fast-bowling all-rounder and will be looking to seal his place with the injury concerns surrounding Hardik Pandya.

Bowlers: Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

Axar Patel has been the side’s reliable spinner and can contribute with the bat as well if necessary. The return of Jasprit Bumrah has been a much-anticipated event since his knee injury in England, and he will be looking to get match fitness ahead of the marquee event. 

Arshdeep Singh has been a reliable strike bowler with the new ball, troubling batters with his left-arm angle and being able to contribute in all phases of the innings. Varun Chakravarthy’s form has taken a dip in the last few months, and the mystery spinner will also be looking to have a big series for the side.

Predicted India XI vs Afghanistan for the first T20I:

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.