5 players who could be dropped from the next series

India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on September 13, 15, and 17, 2026, has put several squad members under the spotlight. The series marked the first time Afghanistan hosted India in international cricket, with all three matches held at the same venue.

The India squad, announced by the BCCI on September 1, 2026, featured eight changes from the Zimbabwe T20I series squad. With competition for places intense across batting, bowling and allrounder slots, a number of players face pressure heading into the next assignment.

Here are five players who could be dropped from the next series:

1. Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube is a left-hand bat and right-arm medium allrounder who was included in the Afghanistan T20I squad without a fitness caveat. He was also part of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad announced in December 2025. However, Dube leaked 21 runs in a single over against Afghanistan, and his batting opportunities in the series have been limited in terms of impact. India is having a crowded allrounder group, listing Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Dube as options for the same slots. With so many allrounders competing for limited spots, Dube’s expensive bowling spells make his place difficult to justify in the next series.

2. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy is a right-hand batting allrounder who returned to the India squad for the Afghanistan series after missing the Zimbabwe T20I tour due to a hernia injury. Shivam Dube had replaced him for that Zimbabwe assignment. Reddy was included in the Afghanistan squad subject to fitness clearance. In recent outings, he conceded runs at a high rate in the backend overs, with the allrounder slots already crowded by Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Dube. His fitness history and the competition for places in the middle order and bowling attack mean his position in the next squad is not guaranteed.

3. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson returned to the India squad for the Afghanistan series after being dropped from the Zimbabwe T20I tour. He had struggled for runs during the five-match T20I series against England before that omission. In the first T20I against Afghanistan, Samson managed only 10 runs. He is listed as a wicketkeeper-batter alongside Ishan Kishan in the squad. Samson is one of three candidates for two opening slots, alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma, with Kishan slotted at number three. Another low-scoring outing could put his place under serious pressure for the next series.

4. Ravi Bishnoi

Ravi Bishnoi faces stiff competition for a place in India’s T20I squad, with Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel also competing for spots in the spin-bowling department. However, Chakaravarthy’s injury has opened the door for Bishnoi in the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan. The leg-spinner now has an opportunity to make the most of his chances and strengthen his case for a regular place in the playing XI. Bishnoi will need to deliver impactful performances with the ball, particularly in the middle overs, where his ability to pick up wickets and restrict the scoring rate could prove crucial for India.

5. Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar faces the risk of tactical exclusion due to the competition for places in India’s spin department. With Axar Patel firmly holding the premier spin-bowling all-rounder role after an impressive 1/27 in the first T20I against Afghanistan, India could consider leaving out another spinner to accommodate a specialist fast bowler. Sundar’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable option, but the team combination could work against him. He will therefore need to make a strong impact whenever opportunities come his way and prove that his all-round skills can offer India more balance than an additional pace option.