AFG vs IND, 3rd T20I: Afghanistan’s Predicted Playing XI

2. Middle order

Sediqullah Atal is set to bat at one-drop for Afghanistan. The left-handed batter has steadily established himself as a key figure across formats for the side. Atal is known for a cautious and watchful approach at the crease, though he is also capable of striking the ball hard when the situation demands. His ability to anchor the innings while also accelerating will be important for Afghanistan in a high-scoring Delhi venue.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib are expected to form the core of Afghanistan's middle order, with Mohammad Nabi providing experience and lower-order hitting. The Arun Jaitley Stadium produced an average first-innings score of 171 across seven IPL 2026 games, with six of those seven matches won by the chasing side. Afghanistan's spinners typically thrive in lower-scoring conditions, but the flat Delhi pitch and short boundaries make that difficult to achieve.