5 players who could be dropped from the next series

India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on September 13, 15, and 17, 2026, has put several squad members under the spotlight. The series marked the first time Afghanistan hosted India in international cricket, with all three matches held at the same venue.

The India squad, announced by the BCCI on September 1, 2026, featured eight changes from the Zimbabwe T20I series squad. With competition for places intense across batting, bowling and allrounder slots, a number of players face pressure heading into the next assignment.

Here are five players who could be dropped from the next series:

1. Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube is a left-hand bat and right-arm medium allrounder who was included in the Afghanistan T20I squad without a fitness caveat. He was also part of India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announced in December 2025. However, Dube leaked 21 runs in a single over against Afghanistan, and his batting opportunities in the series have been limited in terms of impact. India is having a crowded allrounder group, listing Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Dube as options for the same slots. With so many allrounders competing for limited spots, Dube's expensive bowling spells make his place difficult to justify in the next series.