India vs Afghanistan: Three-match T20I series opens in Delhi

India and Afghanistan face off on Sunday, September 13, in the first match of a three-game T20I series held entirely at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Notably, Afghanistan is officially listed as the host of the series despite every match being played on Indian soil — a setup that stems from hosting rights granted to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), according to the source reports.

Full-strength India, Bumrah returns

Shreyas Iyer captains a full-strength Indian squad for the series, which marks the return of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah following a lengthy injury layoff. Per Willow Sports, the series doubles as key preparation for India ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with Iyer expressing enthusiasm about the team's first experience at a multi-sport event.

Ahead of the opener, the full squad went through a training session including warm-ups, fielding drills and an extended net session. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan briefly appeared to be in discomfort after a fall during practice, but reportedly walked off without further issue.

Opening dilemma and a possible Samson recall

A key storyline heading into the series is India's opening combination, with Sanju Samson potentially returning to the XI, creating competition with young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Former Rajasthan Royals teammate Ajinkya Rahane has said he favors picking Samson, while Sooryavanshi reportedly spent extended time in a dedicated session with head coach Gautam Gambhir and coach Sitanshu Kotak ahead of the match.

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers also raised concerns about batter Tilak Varma's position in the order, as India looks to settle on clearer batting roles after a run of inconsistent form. Iyer, for his part, praised Gambhir's approach to managing the squad and addressed ongoing injury concerns within the team.

Traffic restrictions in Delhi

Because the match coincides with the BRICS Summit taking place in the city, Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory for spectators and commuters, with restrictions around the stadium beginning at 1400 hours local time on match day.

The sources reviewed did not specify dates for the second and third matches, nor detailed pitch conditions or win-probability figures for the opener.