India Set to Open T20I Series Against Afghanistan in New Delhi Today
The three-match T20I series, with Afghanistan as the home side, marks the start of India's white-ball home season.
The story
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi is poised to host the first T20 International today as India's men's team, led by Shreyas Iyer, takes on Afghanistan. This series, with Afghanistan playing their home games in India due to security concerns, kicks off a busy period for the Men in Blue.
The three T20Is are scheduled for September 13, 15, and 17. India will be looking to start their home season strongly, especially with important white-ball assignments like the 2027 Cricket World Cup on the horizon.
The series offers a chance for both sides to fine-tune their T20 combinations and for players to stake their claim ahead of future tournaments. While India recently secured a Test series win in Sri Lanka, the focus now shifts to the shortest format against a competitive Afghanistan outfit.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Pakistan | Test | England won by 8 wickets | Joe Root 62* & Jordan Cox 59* |
| Botswana vs Sierra Leone | T20I | Botswana won by 23 runs | Abu Kamara 46 & 2/34 |
| Kenya vs Uganda | T20I | Kenya won by 8 wickets | Result details not available |
| Nepal vs United Arab Emirates | ODI | Nepal won by 44 runs | Result details not available |
| Oman vs Hong Kong, China | ODI | Hong Kong, China won by 9 wickets | Result details not available |
Series in play
Pakistan tour of England 2026. England won the 3-Test series 3-0
Africa Continental Cup 2026. Group stage matches ongoing
ACC Men's Premier Cup 2026. Nepal won the Final against UAE
Afghanistan tour of India 2026. 1st T20I today, India leads 0-0
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 | Australia (1st), South Africa (2nd), New Zealand (3rd) | England sits 6th, Pakistan last after their series |
| ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings | India (1st) | India retains top position as of May 2026 annual update |
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | India (1st), England (2nd) | India and England share the top rating points as of July 2026 |
What we'll be watching
- September 13: India vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I, Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
- September 13: South Africa vs Namibia, 3rd ODI, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
- September 15: India vs Afghanistan, 2nd T20I, New Delhi
- September 15: England vs Sri Lanka, 1st Vitality IT20, Utilita Bowl, Southampton
- September 15: Australia vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.