India Squad For Afghanistan T20Is: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Retained, Sanju Samson Returns

India have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, with Shreyas Iyer continuing as captain and Tilak Varma named vice-captain.

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has retained his place after his impressive performances during India’s recent T20I series in Zimbabwe. The 15-year-old emerged as one of the standout players during India’s 3-0 series sweep, including a record-breaking half-century and a match-winning 81 in the third T20I.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson returns to the squad after missing the Zimbabwe tour, while spinner Varun Chakaravarthy is also back following his recovery from injury. India have further strengthened their pace attack with the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

However, the participation of Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana remains subject to fitness clearance.

The squad features eight changes from the group that completed the Zimbabwe series. Samson, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Chakaravarthy, Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana have been drafted in, while players including Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav and Prabhsimran Singh have missed out.

India will take on Afghanistan on September 13, 15 and 17, with all three matches scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Afghanistan will be the designated home side despite the entire series being played in India.

The same 15-member squad will also represent India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where the defending champions will again be led by Iyer. The Afghanistan series will serve as India’s final T20I assignment before the Asian Games men’s cricket competition begins on September 24.

India Squad:

Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.