Jasprit Bumrah declared fit as Afghanistan prepare to host India in Delhi

Jasprit Bumrah has been declared fit for the three-match T20I series that Afghanistan host in Delhi from Sunday, the first time they have staged a home series against India

Shreyas Iyer's India open the series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday evening, with the second and third matches at the same ground on 15 and 17 September. Afghanistan are the designated hosts and India the touring side.

The series is also Ibrahim Zadran's first assignment as Afghanistan's full-time T20I captain, a job he took over from Rashid Khan after the team's group-stage exit at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Bumrah has not played since a left knee problem on the England tour, but bowled at full intensity in Friday's session in Delhi after being cleared by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.

A home series on Indian soil

Afghanistan have staged home fixtures in India for a decade, at Greater Noida, Dehradun and Lucknow, but they have never before hosted India themselves. The three matches in Delhi are part of Afghanistan's bilateral cycle, with the BCCI providing the venue.

"It is a great pride that Afghanistan is hosting a major cricketing nation for the first time," Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Naseeb Khan said when the squad was named on 24 August. "This reflects the progress Afghan cricket has made toward achieving its major objectives."

Zadran made the same point before the tour. "It will be the first time we are hosting India in India, so we just need to work on our skills and look forward to having a good series against them," he told RevSportz. "We have played a few games in Delhi before, so we have some experience."

Bumrah cleared to bowl

Bumrah's return is the clearest gain for India. He was passed fit by the Centre of Excellence and bowled under lights at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday, his first serious workload since the knee trouble that followed the white-ball leg in England.

He joins Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur in the seam attack. Thakur was added on 10 September after Harshit Rana tore a rectus femoris muscle bowling in a match simulation at the academy three days earlier.

India's spin options are deep enough to reshuffle around conditions, with Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar all in the 15.

Doubt over Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan is the one fitness question India carry into the opener. He cut short his batting session on Friday with back trouble and was attended to by the team physiotherapist, and India have not confirmed whether he will be available.

Sanju Samson is the other wicketkeeper in the squad, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma expected to open and Tilak Varma, the vice-captain, at the top of the middle order.

Zadran takes over from Rashid

Zadran has led Afghanistan before, in 11 T20Is between 2023 and 2025 for five wins and five defeats, but never as the permanent appointment. Rashid remains in the side, alongside Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Nangyal Kharoti in a deep spin group.

The pace attack has Naveen-ul-Haq back after a stress fracture of the right shoulder that cost him the West Indies series and the T20 World Cup. Gulbadin Naib returns to the middle order and the uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman is the second gloveman.

Asked about Sooryavanshi, Zadran said Afghanistan would not improvise. "He is a very talented player. We will keep things simple and make sure we have a proper plan against him," he said.

India looking to steady a poor year

India come into the series having won four of their ten T20Is in 2026, a run that includes a 2-0 defeat in Ireland and further losses on the England tour, an uncomfortable record for the reigning T20 world champions.

Afghanistan, for their part, are still looking for a first win over India in any format, though they have run them close in both T20Is and ODIs at ICC events.

The same 15 players make up India's squad for the Asian Games, so the fortnight in Delhi doubles as their last competitive preparation before Japan.

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