India are the clear favourites to win the 1st T20I, carrying a 55% win probability into the India vs Afghanistan match prediction. Riding a three-match winning streak and playing at the familiar Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Shreyas Iyer’s side have the edge in batting depth and home conditions. Afghanistan’s spin threat, led by Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, keeps this competitive, but India’s firepower is overwhelming. This preview covers the pitch, playing XI, toss prediction, and fantasy cricket tips.
India vs Afghanistan Match Details
Match | India vs Afghanistan | 1st T20I | Afghanistan Tour of India |
Date | 13/09/2026 (Sunday) |
Time | BDT 8:00 PM / PKT 7:00 PM / INR 7:30 PM |
Format | T20 |
Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
Recent Performance | India – L L W W W Afghanistan – L L L W W |
IND vs AFG Afghanistan Tour of India 2026: Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
The 1st T20I between India and Afghanistan is available across multiple platforms. Check your regional provider below for live access.
- India: Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports Ten 5 SD/HD TV), FanCode (Live Streaming)
- USA & Canada: Willow TV (TV/Streaming)
- Nepal: Sony Sports Network (TV)
- Worldwide: Matches available via Sports Live Hub for global streaming access across regions.
Broadcast details may vary by region.
India vs Afghanistan Toss Prediction
India are predicted to win the toss and elect to bat first at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Delhi pitch tends to be a high-scoring surface, and batting under lights with dew factored in can make chasing slightly easier in the second innings. By posting a commanding total first, India can then deploy their varied bowling attack and put Afghanistan under immediate pressure from the outset.
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is traditionally a batter’s paradise with a flat, true surface that offers excellent carry through the covers. In the IND vs AFG pitch analysis, powerplay scoring is typically explosive, and total scores of 180–200+ are par for the format here. The surface does offer some turn for wrist spinners in the middle overs, which plays directly into Afghanistan’s hands with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in their lineup. Dew in the evening session can further ease conditions for batting in the chase.
Weather Report
Delhi in mid-September typically brings warm and humid evenings, with temperatures expected to hover around 30–33°C at match time. There is a moderate chance of pre-match cloud cover, but rain interruption is unlikely for a night fixture. Dew is expected to be a significant factor from the midway point of the match onwards, which could make the second innings easier to bat in and harder for spinners to grip the ball, a key strategic consideration in tonight’s high-voltage T20I.
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head Records
Matches Played | 9 |
IND Won | 8 |
AFG Won | 0 |
Tied | 0 |
No Result | 1 |
First-ever Fixture | May 1, 2010 |
Most-recent Fixture | June 20, 2024 |
India vs Afghanistan Team Preview & Squads
India
Shreyas Iyer steps into the captaincy role for this T20I series and brings genuine match-winning potential at number three, his aggressive stroke-play and ability to anchor an innings make him both the tactical brain and the batting backbone of this Indian XI. In this IND vs AFG preview, Iyer is predicted as Player of the Match, top run-scorer, and most sixes hitter, which tells you everything about how central he is to India’s plans for the series opener.
With the bat, Ishan Kishan is expected to provide explosive intent at the top of the order alongside Abhishek Sharma. The middle order features Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube, who can up the tempo instantly, while Sanju Samson and Nitish Kumar Reddy offer depth and flexibility. India’s batting structure is arguably the most complete in this format, and a score of 200+ at Arun Jaitley feels entirely within reach.
Arshdeep Singh leads a bowling attack packed with variety, his left-arm swing with the new ball sets the tone, while Jasprit Bumrah provides the X-factor in any phase. Washington Sundar and Axar Patel cover the spin department alongside Varun Chakravarthy, giving India four genuine bowling options to neutralise Afghanistan’s top order. Ravi Bishnoi and Yash Thakur round out a well-balanced unit built to defend and attack in equal measure.
India Squads:
India Squads
Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, Yash Thakur
Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran is Afghanistan’s captain, top batter, and emotional leader all in one, a player who backs himself to win matches almost single-handedly, as demonstrated by his unbeaten 95 against Canada at the T20 World Cup. The problem for Afghanistan is that Zadran’s brilliance has rarely translated into team victories against India. In this AFG team preview, he remains the player most likely to give India’s bowlers a genuine problem, particularly in the powerplay.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is predicted as Afghanistan’s top run-scorer and most sixes hitter, and the wicketkeeper-batter’s natural aggression at the top of the order can put India on the back foot early if he connects. The batting order also features Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib in the middle, but Afghanistan’s middle order has historically been fragile against quality pace and spin on Indian surfaces.
Where Afghanistan genuinely threaten is with the ball. Rashid Khan remains one of the most dangerous T20 bowlers in the world, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s mystery spin can cause early chaos in the powerplay. Noor Ahmad, predicted as top wicket-taker, adds another potent left-arm spin option, and with Naveen-ul-Haq providing seam, Afghanistan have enough to defend if they post a competitive total. The spin trio will be the key to keeping India’s formidable batting lineup in check.
Afghanistan Squads:
Afghanistan Squads
Ibrahim Zadran, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Noor ul Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Sediqullah Atal
IND vs AFG Prediction
Event | India | Afghanistan |
Toss Winner | India | – |
Player of the Match | Shreyas Iyer | – |
Top Run Scorer | Shreyas Iyer | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
Top Wicket Taker | Arshdeep Singh | Noor Ahmad |
Most Sixes | Shreyas Iyer | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
Predicted Score | 200+ | 180+ |
Win Probability | 55% | 45% |
India vs Afghanistan Winning Prediction
India are our predicted winners of the 1st T20I, backed by a 55% win probability, home advantage at Arun Jaitley Stadium, and a batting lineup that has the firepower to post targets even Afghanistan’s best spinners will struggle to chase. Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and Arshdeep Singh’s bowling make India a well-rounded unit in every phase. Afghanistan’s spin trio could make this closer than the head-to-head suggests, could Rashid Khan and company pull off a historic first T20I win against India? Drop your prediction in the comments and follow JeetBuzz for live updates, expert analysis, and fantasy cricket tips throughout the Afghanistan tour of India 2026.
FAQ: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 1st T20I
Q1: What time does the IND vs AFG 1st T20I start in IST?
The match begins at 7:30 PM IST on September 13, 2026.
Q2: Where can I watch the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I live?
The match is available to stream live on Sports Live Hub (SLH).
Q3: Has Afghanistan ever beaten India in a T20I?
No, India have won 8 of the 9 T20Is played between the two sides, with one match ending in no result.
Disclaimer: This cricket prediction reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. We encourage readers to review the points shared and draw their own conclusions.