FIFA World Cup broadcast technology to be used for Afghanistan vs India T20I series in Delhi

India and Afghanistan will contest a three-match T20I series at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi from September 13 to 17, 2026. The bilateral engagement will mark only the second T20I series between the two nations. The matches are scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17.

The series will use production technologies and operational staff drawn from FIFA World Cup 2026 infrastructure, according to reports from Cricbuzz. The two teams last met in a three-match T20I series in January 2024, when India hosted Afghanistan in Mohali, Indore and Bengaluru. This upcoming engagement represents a significant upgrade in broadcast production standards for bilateral cricket.

“This is the first time a bilateral cricket series will be produced to full FIFA World Cup host-broadcast standards. The same individuals who directed the FIFA World Cup Final and multiple UEFA Champions League Finals will lead the gallery,” ITW Universe, which holds the production rights to the series, said in a statement

Broadcast technology and production standards

The production operation will introduce advanced broadcast technologies including AI-stabilised point-of-view cameras, volumetric free-viewpoint technology, advanced Spidercam systems, ultra-motion capture and cine-style storytelling capabilities. The Spatio system from Quidditch Innovation Labs will create broadcast-grade augmented reality overlaid on stabilised drone feeds with real-time optical player tracking, enhancing the viewing experience across multiple platforms.

Director and production personnel

Jamie Oakford will direct the series. Oakford has helmed every FIFA World Cup since the 2002 edition and previously directed the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. His involvement underscores the scale and ambition of the broadcast operation planned for the India-Afghanistan matches. The deployment of World Cup-level production personnel and technology to a bilateral cricket series marks a notable shift in how international cricket broadcasts are being produced.

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India and Afghanistan recently competed in a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series after the IPL. The Shubman Gill-led side won the red-ball encounter comprehensively and whitewashed the Blue Tigers in the ODIs. However, Afghanistan would offer much stronger resistance in the shortest format, with plenty of players in their line-up capable of changing the game through their experience of playing in top franchise leagues around the world.