5 players who need a big performance in the next series

India are hosting Afghanistan across three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with matches scheduled on September 13, September 15, and September 17, 2026. Afghanistan are the designated home side for the series despite the games being played in India.

India arrive in this series on the back of a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe, and Shreyas Iyer leads a squad that includes several players carrying fitness question marks. With competition for places intense across all departments, a number of individuals have strong reasons to deliver in the remaining matches.

Here are the five players who need a big show in the next series:

1. Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube is classified as an allrounder who bats left-hand and bowls right-arm medium. He conceded 21 runs in the final over of the first T20I against Afghanistan on September 13, 2026, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. That kind of expensive spell raises questions about his reliability as a fifth or sixth bowling option. Dube faces growing competition from younger domestic power-hitters, and his ability to contribute with the ball in pressure situations will be closely watched in the remaining two games. A strong all-round showing in the final two T20Is would go a long way in settling the debate around his place in the side.