AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction, 1st T20I, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Injury Updates, Pitch Report for Afghanistan vs India in India, 2026

AFG vs IND Dream11 Prediction, 1st T20I: Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Injury Updates & Pitch Report

Match Preview

Afghanistan will take on India in the first T20I of the series on Sunday, September 13, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The series marks a significant occasion, with Afghanistan set to host a bilateral series in India for the first time.

Ibrahim Zadran will lead Afghanistan for the first time and will have several experienced players at his disposal, including Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Afghanistan will look to make the most of the conditions and put up a strong challenge against the hosts.

Meanwhile, India enter the series on the back of a dominant 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, which features the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan and Ravi Bishnoi. The Men in Blue will be keen to find the right combination and build momentum ahead of the Asian Games, with several players looking to make a strong impression in the series.

India possess a strong batting lineup, with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan capable of scoring quickly in the powerplay. Afghanistan will rely on their experienced bowling attack, led by Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi, to restrict the hosts.

Match Information

Match: Afghanistan vs India, 1st T20I
Tournament: Afghanistan vs India in India, 2026
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

AFG vs IND Pitch Report

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi generally offers a batting-friendly surface in T20 cricket, with good pace, bounce and short boundaries aiding stroke-making. Batters who time the ball well can score freely once they settle in.

Pacers may get some movement early in the innings, while spinners could become more effective as the pitch slows down. In a night game, dew could make batting easier in the second innings and make it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball.

Pitch Type: Batting-friendly
Average First Innings Score: 175

Weather Report

The weather is expected to remain mostly clear in Delhi, providing favourable conditions for a full match.

Probable Playing XI

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran (C), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq

Bench: N U Rahman, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Noor Ahmad

India

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

Bench: Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana

Injury News

There are no confirmed injury updates available at the time of writing. Any late changes will be updated after the toss.

Captain and Vice-Captain Picks

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma is an excellent captaincy choice for this match. He has scored 1,629 runs in 56 T20 matches at an outstanding strike rate of 187.25. His explosive batting style and ability to attack from the outset make him a major fantasy threat.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a strong vice-captain option after accumulating 2,280 runs in 87 T20 matches. The experienced Afghanistan opener can provide an aggressive start and score valuable fantasy points through his batting and wicketkeeping.

Top Fantasy Picks

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan has scored 1,608 runs in 55 T20 matches at a strike rate of 146.32. His attacking approach and experience make him an important player for India, especially on a batting-friendly surface.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is one of the most accomplished T20 bowlers, having claimed 193 wickets in 115 matches. His variations and control could be crucial during the middle overs, making him a premium fantasy selection.

Budget Picks

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already made an impact in T20 cricket, scoring 193 runs in six matches at a remarkable strike rate of 189.22. His aggressive approach makes him an exciting budget fantasy option.

Sediqullah Atal

Sediqullah Atal has accumulated 621 runs in 29 T20 matches. The Afghanistan top-order batter provides another dependable batting option and could contribute valuable fantasy points if he gets a good start.

Players to Avoid

Harshit Rana
Noor ul Rahman

Dream11 Prediction Team (Small League)

Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan

Batters: Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer

All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Abhishek Sharma (C), Axar Patel

Bowlers: Rashid Khan (VC), Naveen-ul-Haq, Varun Chakravarthy

Team Combination: India 6 : 5 Afghanistan

Dream11 Prediction Team (Mega League)

Wicketkeepers: None

Batters: Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Tilak Varma

All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy

Bowlers: Rashid Khan (C), Naveen-ul-Haq, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah (VC)

Team Combination: India 6 : 5 Afghanistan

Match Prediction

Afghanistan and India both have talented players capable of changing the course of the match. Afghanistan possess a dangerous bowling attack led by Rashid Khan, while their experienced batters will look to challenge India’s bowlers.

However, India have a strong batting lineup, a balanced bowling attack, and the advantage of playing at home. Their recent 3-0 series victory over Zimbabwe will also provide confidence heading into this contest.

Prediction: India are likely to win the 1st T20Iagainst Afghanistan in 2026.

FAQs

Who are the best captain picks for AFG vs IND Dream11?
Abhishek Sharma and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are the best captaincy options for this match.

Who are the best budget picks for AFG vs IND Dream11?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sediqullah Atal are the top budget-friendly fantasy picks.

What is the pitch report for Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi?
The pitch is expected to be batting-friendly, with good pace, bounce and short boundaries. The average first innings score is around 175.

Who is likely to win the AFG vs IND match?
India are the favourites due to their strong squad, recent form, and home advantage.