India Begin Afghanistan T20I Series With Focus on Shreyas Iyer’s Captaincy
The opening match in New Delhi marks a fresh test for India’s full strength squad, with the series also serving as preparation for the upcoming Asian Games.
NEW DELHI, Sept 13: India will begin their three match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Sunday, with captain Shreyas Iyer facing an important opportunity to steady the team after a difficult start to his tenure.
The opening game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is taking place under unusual circumstances. India, despite playing on home soil, have been designated the visiting team, with Afghanistan serving as the nominal hosts because of the arrangements surrounding the series.
The series is scheduled to run from September 13 to 17, with the second and third matches also being played in Delhi. The three games are expected to provide valuable preparation ahead of the Asian Games.
Iyer takes charge of a full strength Indian squad after a challenging beginning to his T20I captaincy. India suffered a 4-0 series defeat in England, with one match washed out, before losing the Ireland series 2-0. A 3-0 sweep against Zimbabwe provided some relief.
The Afghanistan series therefore presents the Indian side with an opportunity to regain confidence and build momentum before the next major assignment.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be looking to make the most of the unusual home-team designation and challenge a strong Indian side. Ibrahim Zadran is leading the visitors in the T20I series and will be hoping to guide his team towards a historic series success.
Afghanistan’s bowling plans are expected to focus heavily on India’s key batters, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Young Indian batting prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also attracting attention ahead of the opening contest.
The series comes at a significant stage for Indian cricket, with the team looking to develop combinations and provide its leading players with competitive match practice.
The opening fixture is also being played as the national capital hosts the BRICS Summit, creating additional logistical and traffic challenges around the stadium. Delhi authorities have issued advisories ahead of the match.
For Iyer, the series represents an opportunity to establish greater consistency as India’s T20I captain. For Afghanistan, it is a chance to test themselves against one of the world’s strongest limited overs teams.
With three matches packed into five days, the contest is expected to offer both sides an important competitive build up ahead of the Asian Games.
