AFG vs IND Fantasy Prediction, 1st T20: Afghanistan vs India Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Delhi

This series marks a big change for India. Shreyas Iyer is now India’s T20I captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav after a mixed T20 World Cup and a poor IPL season. Tilak Varma is vice captain. Jasprit Bumrah returns to India’s T20I side for the first time since the World Cup final in March. Ibrahim Zadran captains Afghanistan, who have never beaten India in a T20I. These changes will also be important for AFG vs IND Fantasy Team selections, especially when considering the captaincy, playing XI and key players.

AFG vs IND Match Details

Match: Afghanistan vs India, 1st T20I, Afghanistan vs India in India 2026
Date: Sunday, 13 September 2026
Time: 7:30 pm
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Live Streaming: Sony Sports Ten Network, DD Sports, Crex and FanCode

A New Captain for India

This is worth explaining clearly. Suryakumar Yadav led India to the T20 World Cup title in March, but his form dropped off after that. He managed 242 runs in nine World Cup innings and only 270 runs across 13 IPL innings this year. The selectors handed the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer, who had not played a T20I since December 2023 before this recall. Tilak Varma is his deputy. This is India’s first T20I series under the new leadership.

Jasprit Bumrah is also back in the T20I side after missing the England and Ireland tours. Sanju Samson returns as a wicketkeeper option too, having been left out for the Zimbabwe series.

Recent Form

Afghanistan have won two of their last five. They beat Canada and UAE at the T20 World Cup, but lost to South Africa and New Zealand in the same tournament, and lost to West Indies most recently.

India have won three of their last five. They beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in a clean sweep, but lost the last two matches of their previous series in England.

AFG vs IND Head to Head Record

India lead the head to head 8-0. Afghanistan have never beaten India in a T20I. The most recent meeting went to a Super Over, which India also won.

AFG vs IND Squads

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran captains the side. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman give the bowling real quality. Rahmanullah Gurbaz keeps wicket and opens.

Full squad: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Darwish Rasooli, Noor ul Rahman, Sediqullah Atal, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Naveen ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

India: Shreyas Iyer captains the side in his first T20I series as leader. Tilak Varma is vice captain. Jasprit Bumrah returns to the format, and Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are both back as wicketkeeper options. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the teenage batting sensation, is also part of the squad.

Full squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.

Pitch Report

Arun Jaitley Stadium favours chasing. The side bowling first has won 67 percent of matches across 15 tracked games. The average first innings score is 164, dropping to 149 in the second.

Pace and spin are close, with pace taking 48 percent of wickets over the last 10 matches and spin 52 percent. India’s spin options and Afghanistan’s own spin trio of Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb should all find something here.

Weather Report

This is a concern. Sunday in Delhi is forecast for mostly cloudy conditions, 62 percent humidity, a temperature around 33.4°C, and a 64 percent chance of rain. Check the toss and any delay before finalising your fantasy team.

Probable Playing XIs

Afghanistan (Probable): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

India (Probable): Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.

These are estimates. Final XIs are confirmed at the toss.

Key Player Battles

Jasprit Bumrah vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Bumrah is back in T20Is for the first time since March. Gurbaz opening against him is a big early moment for this match.

Shreyas Iyer vs Rashid Khan: Iyer leads India for the first time in this format. Rashid’s leg spin is the toughest test he will face today.

Rashid Khan vs India’s middle order: Rashid remains one of the best white ball spinners in the world, and India’s new middle order will be tested by him early.

AFG vs IND Fantasy Team

Wicketkeepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Ibrahim Zadran, Tilak Varma

All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma, Mohammad Nabi, Axar Patel

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (C), Rashid Khan (VC), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Bumrah is captain as one of the best bowlers in the world, back in the format after a long break. Rashid Khan is vice captain as Afghanistan’s most dangerous bowler and a real threat with the bat too.

Also Read- ZIM-W vs SA-W Fantasy Prediction, 2nd T20: Zimbabwe Women vs South Africa Women Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Bulawayo

Match Prediction

India have a big edge on paper and in history. They have never lost to Afghanistan in a T20I, and Bumrah’s return adds real strength to the bowling attack.

Afghanistan have a strong spin attack in Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb, and they can trouble any batting line up on their day. But this is a fresh India side finding its feet under a new captain, not a weakened one.

India are the clear favourites, though the 64 percent chance of rain means this match may not be settled in the conventional way.

AFG vs IND Fantasy Team FAQs

Q. Who will win the AFG vs IND 1st T20 today?
A. India are strong favourites. They have never lost to Afghanistan in a T20I, and Jasprit Bumrah returns to the side for this series.

Q. Who is India’s new T20I captain?
A. Shreyas Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav after the selectors decided to make a change following a mixed T20 World Cup and a poor IPL season. Tilak Varma is vice captain.

Q. What is the AFG vs IND Fantasy prediction for the 1st T20?
A. Jasprit Bumrah is the top captaincy pick. Rashid Khan is the top pick for Afghanistan.

Q. What is the head to head record between Afghanistan and India?
A. India lead 8-0. Afghanistan have never beaten India in a T20I.

Q. Is there a rain threat for the AFG vs IND match?
A. Yes, a real one. The forecast shows a 64 percent chance of rain with cloudy conditions.