India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I 2026: Where to Watch Live, Full Squads, Probable XIs and Fantasy Team Preview

India and Afghanistan begin their three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Afghanistan are the official hosts even though the entire series is being played in India, creating the unusual situation of India using the visitors’ facilities at a familiar home venue.

The first T20I brings together an Indian side captained by Shreyas Iyer and an experienced Afghanistan team beginning a new chapter under full-time T20I captain Ibrahim Zadran. India have explosive batting and multiple spin options, while Afghanistan arrive with Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and a returning Naveen-ul-Haq.1

This guide covers where to watch the match live, the confirmed squads, probable playing XIs, recent form, pitch and weather expectations, key battles and a pre-toss fantasy team prediction.

Important fantasy note: The lineup below is an informational pre-match prediction, not a guaranteed result. Fantasy sports can involve financial risk. Always verify the official playing XIs, toss, weather, player fitness and platform rules before making a selection.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I 2026 Match Details

The official FanCode series page currently lists all three matches for 7:00 PM IST. One later secondary report lists 7:30 PM, so viewers should recheck the official match centre on game day in case the start time is adjusted.

Where to Watch India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Live in India

The match will be televised on the Sony Sports Network in India. A current telecast guide lists Sony Sports Ten 5 SD and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD as the relevant channels.

For online viewing, the rights-specific reports and FanCode’s own tournament page identify FanCode as the exclusive digital streaming platform. The stream is available through the FanCode app, website and supported connected televisions. FanCode distribution may also be accessible through selected partner services, but availability can depend on the user’s existing plan and device.

Some generic reports mention SonyLIV, but the more specific media-rights coverage separates the rights: Sony Sports Network for television and FanCode for digital streaming. Fans should verify the final platform listing before purchasing a match pass or subscription.

Save this page and return after the toss. 4xSports will update the final playing XIs and fantasy combination when official team sheets are available.

India Squad for the 1st T20I

The BCCI named a 15-player squad led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Four selections—Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana—were marked subject to fitness clearance in the official announcement.

India squad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

Note: Harshit Rana is Replaced by Yash Thakur

The fitness conditions matter because they affect India’s bowling balance. If Bumrah and Harshit are unavailable, Arshdeep Singh becomes the most experienced confirmed specialist seamer. If Washington or Nitish is cleared, India gain another all-round option without weakening the batting depth.

Afghanistan Squad for the 1st T20I

Ibrahim Zadran will captain Afghanistan in his first series as the full-time T20I leader. Naveen-ul-Haq is back in the national setup after completing his recovery from a right-shoulder stress injury. Afghanistan’s spin group remains its main strength, with Rashid Khan supported by Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nangyal Kharoti and Mohammad Nabi.

Afghanistan squad: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Noor Rahman (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq.

Afghanistan have batting power at the top through Gurbaz, stability through Ibrahim and multiple all-rounders for the middle overs. Their central selection question is whether to play three frontline spinners or retain an extra seamer for a potentially humid Delhi evening.

Probable Playing XI for India

Predicted India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah.

This XI assumes India prefer Ishan’s left-handed opening option and carry two wrist-spin threats. The final combination depends heavily on fitness clearances. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a genuine alternative at the top after what Indian Express described as an excellent Zimbabwe tour, while Nitish Kumar Reddy or Washington Sundar could replace a specialist batter or bowler if the team wants more all-round depth.

Sanju Samson’s role is also flexible. India could use him as a middle-order batter even if Ishan keeps wicket, or promote him if they want a right-left opening combination. No playing XI is official until the toss.

Probable Playing XI for Afghanistan

Predicted Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq.

Noor Ahmad is the strongest alternative. If the selected strip looks dry or slow, Afghanistan can bring in the left-arm wrist-spinner for a seamer or middle-order option. That would give them Rashid, Mujeeb, Noor and Nabi in the same attack—a difficult match-up for any batting side.

Players in Strong Form Who Could Perform Well

Ishan Kishan

Ishan enters the series with a remarkable 270 from 334 balls in the Duleep Trophy final, an innings containing 30 fours and seven sixes. It came in red-ball cricket, so it does not directly predict a T20 score, but it is a significant confidence and timing indicator.

His possible opening role and wicketkeeping points make him one of the most attractive multi-route fantasy options if he is named in the XI. Read the full story behind Ishan Kishan’s 270 and East Zone’s 708.

Rashid Khan

Rashid recently produced an all-round performance against Ireland, taking 3/44 and scoring an unbeaten 37 in an ODI chase. The Afghanistan Cricket Board reported that it was his second successive Player-of-the-Match award after a six-wicket haul in the preceding game.

Delhi’s shorter boundaries create risk, but Rashid’s pace through the air, googly and ability to contribute late runs make him Afghanistan’s most complete fantasy candidate.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Gurbaz made 71 against Ireland in August and reached 4,500 international runs during that innings. As an opening batter and wicketkeeper, he can earn points in both innings. His value is highest if Afghanistan bat first or chase a manageable target without early scoreboard pressure.

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek’s attacking role gives him access to the powerplay, where the field restrictions can quickly produce a high-impact fantasy score. He is also capable of contributing with left-arm spin. The risk is equally clear: an aggressive opener can be dismissed early, especially against Farooqi’s new-ball movement.

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep is in the squad without a fitness condition and can operate both with the new ball and at the death. Those phases create wicket opportunities even when the economy rate is under pressure. He becomes particularly important if India’s other fast bowlers are not cleared.

Azmatullah Omarzai

Omarzai can contribute in the middle order and with seam bowling. His exact workload may vary, but all-round involvement is valuable in fantasy cricket when conditions support both disciplines.

Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report

Arun Jaitley Stadium has generally favoured high-scoring T20 cricket. A 2026 venue preview put the historical IPL first-innings average near 170, with teams batting second holding only a small advantage over teams batting first. The same venue has also produced occasional low-scoring matches, showing that the specific strip matters more than the ground’s reputation alone.

The short boundaries reward clean power hitting. At the same time, the surface can become slower as it wears, allowing wrist spinners and bowlers with cutters to stay involved. That combination brings Abhishek, Ishan, Gurbaz and Dube into the batting conversation, while Rashid, Varun, Ravi Bishnoi and Mujeeb remain strong bowling candidates.

Because the Delhi Premier League ended only on August 30, ground staff had a relatively short preparation window. Heavy rain also interrupted Afghanistan’s early training in Delhi.

Delhi Weather Forecast and Dew Factor

A forecast queried on September 10 projected a humid September 13 evening, with the temperature around 26–27°C near the scheduled start. The model showed rain risk earlier in the afternoon and a lower but still meaningful precipitation probability around 7:00 PM.

Forecasts can change quickly. If rain shortens the match, top-order hitters and powerplay bowlers become more valuable because fewer overs reduce the time available for middle-order players. High evening humidity also raises the possibility of dew, which can make gripping the ball harder for spinners and encourage the captain winning the toss to chase.

Key Player Battles

Pre-Toss Fantasy Team Prediction

This is a 7 India–4 Afghanistan pre-toss combination. It is built around top-order exposure, wicketkeeping opportunities, multi-skill players and bowlers likely to operate in wicket-taking phases.

Fantasy Alternatives After the Toss

If the pitch is visibly dry, Mujeeb Ur Rahman or Noor Ahmad can replace a batter or seamer. If there is moisture or heavy cloud cover, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq become more attractive. If Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is confirmed as an opener, his recent momentum makes him a high-risk, high-upside alternative. Any fitness-dependent Indian player should be selected only after official confirmation.

For captaincy, Abhishek offers maximum powerplay upside, while Rashid provides both bowling and lower-order batting routes. Gurbaz and Ishan are safer alternative multipliers because each can combine opening runs with wicketkeeping points.

Where to Find the Final Fantasy Team Update

The most useful fantasy team is the one updated after the toss, not a lineup published several days early. Return to this 4xSports page around 6:30 PM IST for the official XIs, last weather check, pitch observation and final substitutions. You can also follow the 4xSports Cricket section for the latest match update.

Before using any lineup, check the platform’s current player credits, team-combination limits and role classifications. A player shown as an all-rounder on one platform can occasionally have a different role elsewhere.

India vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head

India have dominated the men’s T20I record. The teams have played nine times: India won all eight completed matches, while one ended without a result. Their most dramatic meeting came in Bengaluru in January 2024, when two Super Overs were needed to separate the sides.

That record makes India favourites on paper, but Afghanistan’s spin depth and familiarity with Indian conditions make the gap smaller than the historical results suggest. Afghanistan are also the official hosts and have had time in Delhi before the series, although rain disrupted part of their preparation.

Match Prediction

India begin with the stronger head-to-head record, greater batting depth and home-condition familiarity. Afghanistan’s clearest route to an upset is to take early wickets, force India’s middle order to attack spin and use Gurbaz to win the powerplay.

The safer cricket prediction is India as slight favourites, not an overwhelming certainty. Fitness decisions, rain, dew and the final pitch can materially change the contest. Afghanistan possess enough wicket-taking spin and experienced all-rounders to punish a poor Indian start.

For a deeper tactical background on both teams, read our long India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I preview and save the Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule for what follows this series.

Final Checklist Before the Match

Confirm the start time on FanCode, check the Sony Sports TV listing, wait for the official XIs, review the fitness status of India’s four conditional selections and adjust for rain or dew. Those five checks are more valuable than blindly copying an early fantasy combination.

Bookmark this article, share it with your cricket group and return after the toss for the final team update.