India vs Afghanistan first T20I: India opt to bowl first

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India's Jasprit Bumrah, right, makes a successful appeal for the wicket of Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz during the first T20I cricket match between India and Afghanistan, in New Delhi on September 13, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

India skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl against Afghanistan in the first T20 International in New Delhi on Sunday (September 13, 2026).

India preferred the experience of Sanju Samson over batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned to the playing XI after missing India’s recent assignments following the left-knee injury that ruled him out of an ODI in England and two Tests in Sri Lanka.

India also opted for specialist spinner Varun Chakravarthy ahead of seamer Yash Thakur.

"We've played quite a lot of matches here and looking at the conditions, we can bowl first. We had lots of positives from the Zimbabwe series and that's the attitude we'll carry," said Iyer.

On Bumrah's return to the side, Iyer said it was a huge boost for Idnia.

"It's a luxury to have him [Bumrah] in the squad — he carries a lot of great attitude when it comes to winning matches. Vaibhav [Sooryavanshi] is not playing, neither are Washington and two more."

India: Sanju Samson (w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

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