Before the toss at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 2026, Afghanistan and India participated in a ceremonial memento exchange ahead of the first T20I of their bilateral series. Both sides presented framed jerseys and caps, lending a formal and celebratory atmosphere to the pre-match proceedings.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran. The toss was conducted at 7:00 PM IST, with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. Iyer has now won the toss in each of his first nine international outings as captain, showcasing remarkable consistency.
Although Afghanistan are the designated home side for this series, all matches are being staged on Indian soil. This marks the first bilateral T20I series hosted by Afghanistan against India, adding a historic dimension to the cricketing relationship between the two nations. The series also serves as preparation for the upcoming Asian Games.
Why does this series carry added significance for both sides?
Beyond the bilateral context, the fixtures offer valuable preparation for the Asian Games, giving each match heightened competitive importance. Teams are expected to use the games to test combinations and provide fringe players with opportunities to strengthen their claims ahead of the tournament.
For Afghanistan, the series represents a significant milestone in the growth of their international programme. Hosting a full bilateral T20I series against India — even on neutral territory — underscores the rapid progress Afghanistan have made in global cricket over the past decade. The pre-match memento exchange, featuring framed jerseys and caps from each team, reflected the mutual goodwill between the sides.
What are the playing XIs for the first T20I?
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Ibrahim Zadran(c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
