Afghanistan to host India in Delhi as three-match T20I series confirmed for September

The series, agreed upon by the BCCI and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), will begin on September 13.

Updated on: Aug 12, 2026, 12:10:55 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday confirmed another addition to the Indian team’s already busy 2026-27 calendar, with Afghanistan set to host India in a three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi next month.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will likely be part of the Afghanistan series (AFP)

The series, agreed upon by the BCCI and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), will begin on September 13, with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 and the third for September 17. All three matches will be played in Delhi.

The series is part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Programme and will be staged in India, which has hosted several of Afghanistan’s home fixtures in recent years. It will come shortly after the Duleep Trophy, which concludes on September 6, and just days before the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games, scheduled from September 24 to October 2.

That proximity could make the series particularly relevant for the players in contention for the Asian Games squad. The BCCI selectors could potentially retain a similar group for the Afghanistan T20Is, which could give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi another opportunity to make his case for India. The teenager was picked for the Ireland tour earlier this year but did not get a game before making his international debut in England and then winning the Player of the Series award in Zimbabwe.

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Speaking about the series, BCCI President Mithun Manhas said: “The BCCI remains committed to supporting the growth of cricket in Afghanistan and providing its players with opportunities to compete at the highest level. Bilateral cricket is an important part of this, as it allows teams to play regularly against quality opposition and gain valuable experience.

“We welcome the Afghanistan Cricket Board to India for this series and look forward to working closely with them to make it a successful one. We believe there is scope to do more together and will continue to support Afghanistan cricket while strengthening the relationship between the two cricketing nations.”

BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia added: “The BCCI is pleased to support the Afghanistan Cricket Board in hosting this T20I series in India. The India-Afghanistan cricketing rivalry has produced some thrilling encounters over the years, with both teams boasting quality cricketers.

“Afghanistan’s players are also quite popular among fans in India, which is a reflection of the strong bond that has developed between the two cricketing nations. India hosting Afghanistan for their historic first Test in 2018 was another significant milestone in this journey, and since then, we have continued to see regular bilateral engagements between the two teams.

“We recently hosted Afghanistan for a Test and ODI series in June, and this T20I series will mean the two teams have now competed against each other across all three formats. We look forward to welcoming the Afghanistan team to Delhi and are confident that this will be an exciting and memorable series.”

The series adds another chapter to the growing cricketing relationship between the two nations. Afghanistan most recently toured India for a three-match ODI series in June 2026, while the two sides also played a three-match T20I series in January 2024.

India hosted Afghanistan for their historic first Test in 2018, and the teams have continued to meet regularly across formats since then.

ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said: “This series holds great significance for Afghanistan cricket and represents another important step in the development of our longstanding relationship with the BCCI. Hosting India for a bilateral series in India is a significant milestone for us, and we highly value the cooperation and support of the BCCI in making this event possible.

“We have hosted our home fixtures in both India and the UAE in recent years, and given the importance and scale of this series, we believe India provides an excellent setting for the event. We are confident that the series will create valuable opportunities across commercial, technical, and cricketing areas, while adding a new dimension to our bilateral engagement.

“We look forward to a successful series and to further strengthening our partnership with the BCCI.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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