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Afghanistan and India are set to renew their rivalry in T20I cricket when they meet in a three-match series in New Delhi from September 13 to 17. All three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with the series forming an important part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming international calendar.
The series promises to be an intriguing contest, with Afghanistan bringing their established T20 stars and India naming a squad that combines experience with exciting young talent. Ibrahim Zadran will lead Afghanistan in T20Is for the first time on a full-time basis, while Shreyas Iyer has been appointed India’s captain.
Both teams possess several dangerous batters, but three names stand out because of their recent form, roles and ability to change the complexion of a T20 match.
Here are 3 batters to watch out for in AFG vs IND T20Is 2026:
Ibrahim Zadran will be one of the most important players for Afghanistan throughout the series. Apart from taking over the captaincy, the right-handed opener will be expected to provide stability at the top of the order against a strong Indian bowling attack.
Zadran has already demonstrated his ability to perform on the international stage. During the 2026 T20 World Cup, he produced an impressive 95 off 56 balls against Canada, showcasing his ability to combine conventional strokeplay with calculated aggression.
His role becomes even more significant because Afghanistan’s batting lineup contains several explosive players around him. Rahmanullah Gurbaz can attack from the outset, while Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi provide plenty of depth.
For Zadran, the challenge will be to absorb India’s new-ball pressure before taking the attack to the bowlers. The Delhi venue could offer plenty of scoring opportunities, and if he manages to bat deep into the innings, Afghanistan could put India under serious pressure.
More importantly, this is his first series as Afghanistan’s permanent T20I captain. A strong batting performance would therefore provide the perfect start to a new leadership chapter.
The most exciting batting prospect in India’s squad is undoubtedly Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager has earned his place in the T20I setup after making an impression during India’s recent international assignments and will now have an opportunity to establish himself at the highest level.
Sooryavanshi was included in India’s 15-member squad for the Afghanistan series after scoring two half-centuries against Zimbabwe in July. His selection came after a difficult debut series against England, making his response in Zimbabwe particularly impressive.
The youngster’s inclusion adds another dimension to India’s top-order options. The squad also contains Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, meaning there will be considerable competition for the opening positions.
That competition could actually benefit Sooryavanshi. He will know that every opportunity counts, particularly with India’s established stars also fighting for places. His fearless approach and ability to score rapidly make him a potentially dangerous option at the top.
Facing Afghanistan’s world-class spin attack will provide another fascinating challenge. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Nangyal Kharoti are all part of Afghanistan’s squad, meaning Sooryavanshi could be tested against high-quality spin throughout the series.
If he manages to dominate that challenge, his reputation could grow significantly.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz completes the list and will be one of Afghanistan’s biggest batting threats against India.
The explosive wicketkeeper-batter has been a crucial part of Afghanistan’s T20 setup for several years. His ability to attack the bowling during the powerplay makes him particularly dangerous, especially on a venue where a fast start can put enormous pressure on the opposition.
Gurbaz will also benefit from having Zadran alongside him. The pair can complement each other well, with Gurbaz providing aggression while Zadran can anchor the innings if required.
India’s bowlers will have to be particularly disciplined against Gurbaz because giving him width or allowing him to settle could prove costly. The Afghan opener has the range to attack both pace and spin, and his ability to clear the boundary consistently makes him a genuine match-winner.
His battle against India’s new-ball attack could therefore be one of the defining aspects of the series. If Gurbaz can consistently provide Afghanistan with fast starts, the visitors could put India’s bowlers under pressure before the spinners enter the attack.
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