IND vs AFG: What happened last time India played a T20I series against Afghanistan?

India and Afghanistan will meet only for the second time in a bilateral T20I series.

India and Afghanistan (IND vs AFG) have developed an increasingly competitive cricketing relationship over the last few years. While India have traditionally dominated the meetings, Afghanistan have steadily emerged as a challenging opposition, especially in the T20I format. 

The two teams are now scheduled to meet again for a three-match T20I series in September 2026, with the contest carrying significance for both sides. This marks the last bit of preparation that the players will get before leaving for the Asian Games in Japan. 

The upcoming T20I series will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. Afghanistan are officially the host, although the entire series will be played in India due to security concerns in Afghanistan. 

Both sides have announced a star-studded squad for the upcoming series. It is a crucial series for India, as several key players who had missed the last few series due to injuries are making their comeback.

India last met Afghanistan in a bilateral T20I series in 2024

The previous bilateral series between India and Afghanistan was played in January 2024, shortly before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. It marked the return of greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to India’s T20I structure.

Historically, this was the first time these two teams faced each other in a bilateral series; before this, all their encounters had taken place in multi-team tournaments.

India completed a 3-0 series sweep, winning the first two matches in Mohali and Indore before producing one of the most dramatic finishes in T20I history in Bengaluru. 

The first match was played at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Indian bowlers did an excellent job restricting them to 158/5 in their 20 overs. However, the hosts struggled in the chase, with Rohit being dismissed for a duck in the first game. Shivam Dube‘s half-century rescued the team and sealed an easy 6-wicket victory.

The second match marked Virat Kohli’s return to the India playing XI. Indian bowlers once again put up a brilliant performance, restricting Afghanistan to 172 on a batting-friendly pitch.

Batting concerns continued to bother India as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a second duck in the series. Kohli also perished for 29. Instead, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who replaced Shubman Gill, contributed handsomely with a 68, and Shivam Dube scored his second fifty on the trot, leading India to another victory.

The series finale was a dead rubber, but the determination of the two sides made it one of the most thrilling T20I contests of all time.

Team India made a bleak start; at one stage, their score was 22/4. But they eventually finished 212/4, with a magnificent hundred from Rohit Sharma and a handy 69* from Rinku Singh. The hundred marked Rohit’s highest-ever score in T20Is and the fifth of his T20I career. 

Later, Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib pulled out a stunner, emerging as the third half-centurion for Afghanistan in that match. He scored 19 runs off Mukesh Kumar’s final over and tied the scores with India. 

In the first super over, Afghanistan managed to score 16 runs, and India equalled the score in their innings. This was the first time a T20I game witnessed a tied super over. In the second super over, India were bowled out for 11, and Afghanistan lost both their wickets to Ravi Bishnoi, eventually losing the match. 

This dramatic encounter remains the most recent bilateral fixture between India and Afghanistan. The 2026 series is therefore Afghanistan’s first chance to challenge India and earn their maiden victory over the Men in Blue.  

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