Afghanistan to host India for three T20I matches in Delhi

India and Afghanistan are scheduled to play a three-match T20 International series in New Delhi this September, marking a historic occasion where Afghanistan will officially host India on Indian soil. The matches are set for September 13, 15, and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, serving as a final tune-up for both teams before the cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games begins on September 24.

The series represents a unique arrangement in international cricket. While Afghanistan has frequently used Indian venues such as Dehradun, Greater Noida, and Lucknow as home grounds due to security concerns at home, this will be the first instance of the Afghanistan Cricket Board formally hosting India. The arrangement confers official home series status on Afghanistan, including associated benefits like broadcasting rights and commercial revenue.

For India, the series arrives at a critical juncture. The team, led by T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, has faced a difficult run in the shortest format, losing six of its eight matches since winning the T20 World Cup earlier in 2026. This includes a recent 4-0 series defeat to England. The matches against Afghanistan are intended to provide...