India have received a fitness boost with all-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy cleared to play in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. Both completed fitness tests and match simulations at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and are expected to reach New Delhi on Thursday, September 10, to join the squad.
A BCCI source reportedly confirmed that both players have finished their rehabilitation and are fully fit. The three matches, on September 13, 15 and 17, will be India’s first bilateral T20I series against Afghanistan, with Shreyas Iyer captaining the side. The series also serves as preparation for the Asian Games.
Two comebacks after injury
Sundar has been out since he hurt his hamstring in the second ODI against England in Cardiff in July 2026. The problem also kept him out of India’s Test series in Sri Lanka.
Reddy has been absent for longer after a left quadriceps injury. His most recent India appearance came in the home ODI series against Afghanistan in June 2026, and he then missed the tours of Ireland, England and Sri Lanka.
Bumrah and Rana still awaited
India are still waiting for firm updates on Jasprit Bumrah, who hurt a knee in the second ODI against England, and Harshit Rana, who is recovering from a hamstring injury picked up on the England tour. If either misses out, Prince Yadav could be considered.
Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Tilak Varma are due to join after the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. India then play a one-off T20I against Japan on September 22 before starting their Asian Games gold-medal defence on September 28.
