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Shreyas Iyer's Team India is all set to take on the Afghanistan National Cricket Team for a three-match T20I series, starting today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Ahead of the first match of the series, an update regarding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's chances of playing in the first match has been revealed. According to the latest reports, the 15-year-old opener could miss the match.
The T20I squad of the India National Cricket Team is compelling, with three openers: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson. Ishan Kishan is also there, who is a versatile batter.
Team India is likely to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the playing eleven vs Afghanistan.
However, Sooryavanshi, Sharma, and Samson are the three main contenders for two opening slots. Since the arrival of the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson's spot in India's playing eleven has become insecure. Before the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I, speculations keep going on India's probable playing eleven, especially the opening pair.
While some of the reports indicated the teenage sensation could continue as the opener, a latest claim suggests Team India could choose to go with the pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. A RevSportz journalist, Rohit Juglan, on September 13, shared on 'X', "No, Sooryavanshi looks like in today's game."
No Sooryavanshi looks like in today's game
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) September 13, 2026
No Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I
All of the speculations came to an end as soon as the India captain Shreyas Iyer announced the playing eleven at the toss. As the 'X' post predicted before the toss, Suryavanshi is not playing tonight's match. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are the two openers for the Men in Blue.
In a positive development, Jasprit Bumrah is marking his return with the Indian cricket team after an injury layoff. Nitish Kumar Reddy also marks his return to international cricket. But another player, Washington Sundar, who also joined the national camp after recovering from injury, is not named in the playing XI for tonight's match against Afghanistan in New Delhi. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy is also included in the playing eleven.
Shreyas Iyer opt to bowl first
After winning the toss, captain Shreyas Iyer elected to bowl first because of the unpredictable nature of the track. The skipper is expected to get some help from the track with the new ball. The return of Jasprit Bumrah has definitely multiplied the team's bowling strength.
"We are going to bowl first. Whenever you come to Delhi, you know what the pitch has got to offer; it usually is a bowl-first wicket. We had a lot of positives in Zimbabwe; we will try and continue on that. We know Bumrah is a match-winner. Vaibhav is not playing, Washington is not playing, and two more," Shreyas Iyer said at the toss.
Team India Playing XI: Sanju Samson (w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
