Afghanistan vs India Prediction & Match Preview – 3rd T20I, Delhi
Match summary
India won by 127 runs: Afghanistan 94 (14.1 ov), India 221/7 (20 ov). Player of the match: Abhishek Sharma.
Our preview of Afghanistan vs India in the 3rd T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on 17 September 2026: likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | Afghanistan vs India, 3rd T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | Afghanistan vs India in India 2026 |
| Date | 17 Sep 2026 |
| Start time | 8:00 am GMT / 1:30 pm local |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Status | Result |
| Result | India won by 127 runs |
| Player of the match | Abhishek Sharma |
| Our pick | India ✓ |
| Toss pick | India |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Afghanistan and India play the third T20I of their series in India at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday 17 September.
Afghanistan are captained by Ibrahim Zadran, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz keeping wicket and Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi bringing spin and experience. Fazalhaq Farooqi leads the pace group, with a place for either Mujeeb Ur Rahman or Naveen-ul-Haq likely.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, are expected to open with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, followed by Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel give the middle order depth, while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi are in the bowling line-up.
Good stroke-making is expected once batters settle, spin may help in the middle overs, and strong hitting at the death could yield 45–55 runs. Dew could aid a chase later in the evening, which is why our preview sees a slight advantage for the team batting second. Even so, a total of 180 or more batting first would be strong and 190 or more very competitive.
Arun Jaitley Stadium usually gives batters decent bounce and a fast outfield in white-ball cricket, and the shorter boundaries suit power-hitting. The surface can slow as the game progresses, giving spinners and slower-ball bowlers a role in the middle and later overs. It is a batting-friendly venue where a good start can lead to a big total.
The evening is forecast to be clear to mostly clear and warm, at about 30–31°C. The rain chance is low, though a brief shower or thunderstorm cannot be fully ruled out. Humidity is likely to be moderate to high with light to moderate winds, and dew may arrive later.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 160–170 | 94 (14.1 ov) |
| Second innings | 165–180 | 221/7 (20 ov) |
India
India are our pick again, helped by a batting line-up that thrives at this ground, with a slight edge to the side chasing.
Toss pick: India
FAQ
Where is the 3rd T20I between Afghanistan and India?
At Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on 17 September 2026.
What is the par score?
Around 170. Scores of 180 or more batting first would be strong and 190 or more very competitive.
Who has the advantage?
Our preview picks India, and sees a slight advantage for the chasing side because of possible dew.
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 / Naveen-ul-Haq
- Noor Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
India
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samsonwk
- Ishan Kishan
- Shreyas Iyerc
- Tilak Varma
- Shivam Dube
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Ravi Bishnoi
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Afghanistan and India that we covered: Afghanistan 0, India 1 wins.