Afghanistan vs India Prediction & Match Preview – 2nd T20I, Delhi
Match summary
India won by 7 wickets: Afghanistan 159/8 (20 ov), India 163/3 (14.5 ov). Player of the match: Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Our preview of Afghanistan vs India in the 2nd T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on 15 September 2026: likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | Afghanistan vs India, 2nd T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | Afghanistan vs India in India 2026 |
| Date | 15 Sep 2026 |
| Start time | 8:00 am GMT / 1:30 pm local |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Status | Result |
| Result | India won by 7 wickets |
| Player of the match | Nitish Kumar Reddy |
| Our pick | India ✓ |
| Toss pick | India |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Afghanistan face India in the second T20I of their series in India, at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday 15 September.
Afghanistan are captained by Ibrahim Zadran, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz as wicketkeeper. Their bowling is built on spin and experience, with Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman supported by Mohammad Nabi, while Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the quicks and Azmatullah Omarzai offers all-round value.
India are led by Shreyas Iyer. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma head a strong batting order, with Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel adding depth. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy make up the attack.
The quick outfield and short boundaries favour aggressive batting, and dew could make a chase easier. India’s batting depth gives them the advantage if the match becomes high-scoring.
Spinners may find some help if the surface slows in the middle overs, so Afghanistan’s trio of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman could be important in keeping India’s scoring in check. A first-innings total of 185 or more would be a strong score.
Arun Jaitley Stadium is generally a good white-ball batting surface, with decent bounce and a quick outfield that reward batters once they are in. The shorter boundaries help power-hitters. The pitch can slow as the game wears on, bringing spinners and slower variations into play in the middle and later overs. A strong start can produce a big total, but smart changes of pace can make a real difference.
Delhi should be warm and humid, partly cloudy, with only a low chance of rain, although an isolated thunderstorm earlier in the day is possible. Humidity may stay moderate to high, and some dew could develop later in the evening. The risk of significant interruption is low.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 175–190 | 159/8 (20 ov) |
| Second innings | 165–180 | 163/3 (14.5 ov) |
India
Our preview picks India, whose deeper batting should tell if the match turns into a high-scoring contest.
Toss pick: India
FAQ
Where is the 2nd T20I between Afghanistan and India?
It is at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on 15 September 2026.
Who is favoured?
Our preview picks India, who are also tipped to win the toss.
What total is strong at this ground?
A first-innings 185 or more would be strong, and around 180 should keep the batting-first side competitive.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Afghanistan
- Ibrahim Zadranc
- Rahmanullah Gurbazwk
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Gulbadin Naib
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Noor Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
India
- Sanju Samsonwk
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan
- Shreyas Iyerc
- Tilak Varma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Varun Chakaravarthy
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Afghanistan and India that we covered.