India are hosting Afghanistan across three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with matches scheduled for September 13, September 15, and September 17, 2026. Afghanistan are designated as the home side for this series, despite the matches being played on Indian soil.
India enter the series following a commanding 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe, with Shreyas Iyer captaining a squad that includes several players dealing with fitness concerns. Given the intense competition for spots across all departments, certain individuals have compelling reasons to deliver strong performances in the remaining matches.
Here are the five players requiring standout performances in the upcoming series:
1. Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube operates as an allrounder, batting left-hand and bowling right-arm medium. He conceded 21 runs in the final over of the first T20I against Afghanistan on September 13, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Such an expensive spell raises legitimate questions about his reliability as a fifth or sixth bowling option. Dube faces increasing competition from younger domestic power-hitters, and his capacity to contribute with the ball under pressure will be closely scrutinized in the remaining two games. A robust all-round performance in the final two T20Is would significantly bolster his case for a place in the side.
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