Afghanistan to Host India for T20I Series in September

Afghanistan is gearing up to host India for a three-match T20I series in September at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. This series marks a significant milestone as it will be the first time Afghanistan hosts India on Indian soil. With key players participating in the Asian Games, the BCCI is expected to field a strong team. Additionally, the two teams are set to meet again in a Test match in 2026. Read on for more details about the fixtures and player line-ups.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 2, 2026, 18:48 IST

Afghanistan's Upcoming T20I Series Against India

Afghanistan is poised to leverage the "home" advantage as they prepare to face India in a three-match T20I series this September. The matches are scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, marking a significant moment for Afghanistan, who have utilized various venues in India since 2015. The series will occur on September 13, 15, and 17. DDCA Director Shyam Sunder Sharma confirmed these details in a conversation with Sports Now.

Sharma expressed optimism about making the series memorable, highlighting the unique situation of Afghanistan "hosting" India on Indian soil. With many of India's players participating in the Asian Games in Japan, the BCCI is expected to field a strong team against Afghanistan, who reached the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Since 2015, Afghanistan has been playing their matches in India, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the BCCI and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Although India has been considered their adopted home, this will be the first time they host India in India. In 2018, Afghanistan hosted Bangladesh in Dehradun, marking their first home series. That same year, India, led by Ajinkya Rahane, played against Afghanistan in their inaugural Test match, which India won in just two days.

In August 2019, Afghanistan moved their base to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, but they have not played there since November 2019. In 2024, they returned to Greater Noida for a one-off Test against New Zealand, which was unfortunately washed out due to rain.

Upcoming Test Match Between India and Afghanistan

India is set to play their first Test of 2026 against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, scheduled from June 6 to 10. After this Test, the teams will compete in three ODIs on June 13, 17, and 20 in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai, respectively. Shubman Gill will captain the home side in both series, with KL Rahul stepping in as vice-captain, replacing Rishabh Pant. Additionally, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to return to international cricket during the ODI series.