AFG vs IND, 1st T20I: India’s Predicted Playing XI

India are set to take on Afghanistan in the first of three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, on Sunday, September 13. Despite playing at home, the team in blue will be playing as visitors in this series due to security concerns over hosting matches in Afghanistan.

The three-match series will serve as a preparation run ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, where the reigning T20 World Cup champions will enter as favourites. The series offers a platform for the Indian team to get their combinations right before they embark on the quest for yet another laurel.

Here is India's predicted XI for 1st T20I vs Afghanistan:

Top order: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk)

The prodigious 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally looked to have found his footing in international cricket with half-century scores against Zimbabwe after a torrid start to life in blue against England. The young southpaw's enigmatic batting has taken the cricketing world by storm, and he will be looking to have a big series with the bat. He will be partnered up top by fellow southpaw big-hitter Abhishek Sharma, who will play the role of the experienced campaigner at the top.

Ishan Kishan is once more expected to take up the gloves and bat at one drop. The left-hander has made the position his own after a brilliant showing in the T20 World Cup and will take the gloves in the absence of Sanju Samson. Comes into the series in fine batting form, winning the Duleep Trophy with East Zone and scoring a mammoth 280 in the final.