IND vs AFG T20Is: 3 Indian cricketers under the lens in Afghanistan series
India will look to regain their rhythm in the IND vs AFG T20I series.
The upcoming India-Afghanistan T20I series promises to be an important assignment for both teams. India, in particular, will look to regain their rhythm in T20Is following disappointing defeats against Ireland and England earlier this year.
However, under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, India got back on track by winning their previous series against Zimbabwe. The three-match T20I series against Afghanistan will be held at Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, 15, and 17.
Due to intense competition for a spot in the Indian T20I team, many players are still struggling to cement their place in the squad.
Among them, three Indian players will have a lot to prove in this Afghanistan series, as injuries, lack of form, and emerging players threaten their spots.
Indian players who have a point to prove in the IND vs AFG T20Is:
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson is one such player in the Indian team who has a lot to prove in the upcoming series. After missing the Zimbabwe T20I series, this wicketkeeper-batter has been recalled for this series.
The batter played a massive role in India’s ICC T20 World Cup triumph in 2026 but faced serious questions around his form since then.
He managed just 33 runs in the last four T20I appearances for India, with scores of 5, 0, 1 and 27 against Ireland and England. If Samson gets a spot in the Indian playing XI for the Afghanistan series, he will be under pressure to make an immediate impact.
Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar enters the Afghanistan series with considerable expectations after being cleared to play following the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
The all-rounder offers valuable balance to India’s T20I side, contributing as an off-spinner and a batter. However, his numbers in white-ball cricket have drawn criticism for his poor form.
Sundar has managed just 25 runs in T20Is this year and has not picked up a single wicket. Against the Afghans, he will have to establish himself as one of India’s most dependable all-rounders, not only in red-ball cricket but also in white-ball cricket.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy has been struggling with poor form since the 2026 T20 World Cup. His form will once again be under the spotlight as India look to strengthen their spin options. The leg-spinner has been included alongside Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel for the Afghanistan T20Is.
Chakravarthy needs to regain his form to control the middle phase of the game. He also needs to re-emerge as a dangerous wicket-taking bowler for India.
With only 6 wickets in his last seven appearances for India, and a bowling average of nearly 50 in the format, the once No. 1 T20I bowler is now struggling to keep his spot in the XI.
Will Sanju Samson be considered over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for IND vs AFG T20Is?
Nothing can be said yet about India’s plans for the T20I series against Afghanistan. But the opening pair will likely be Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Samson could be utilised as a backup.
Will Washington Sundar play the IND vs AFG T20Is?
Yes, Washington Sundar has been declared fully fit and is available to play in India’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.