Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in, no Sanju Samson! India's strongest playing XI for T20I series vs Afghanistan

The Indian T20I team will return to action after 49 days when they take the field against Afghanistan in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the Shreyas Iyer-led squad on Tuesday (September 1) with the same 15 members named as the ones that will travel to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games later in the month.

Four players in the Indian team are doubtful and picked on subject to fitness. This includes pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana as well as Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. All of them, apart, suffered injuries either before or during India cricket team">India cricket team">India cricket team">India cricket team">India's tour of England in July.

If all players are fit, only Bumrah is a sure-shot part of India's strongest playing XI for the series, as he will share the new ball with Arshdeep Singh. With Hardik Pandya not part of the team, Nitish Kumar Reddy should also find a place if he managed to prove fitness as India continue to invest in him as the next seam-bowling all-rounder.

The big question for India will be in the opening spot with Sanju Samson back in the squad after not making the trip to Zimbabwe. In his absence, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his mark by scoring two half-centuries and winning the Player of the Series (POTS) award. While Abhishek Sharma has had a tough run of form, the team are likely to continue showing trust in him, at least to start with, with his bowling ability also important as a sixth bowling option. It will be a surprise if the Men in Blue do not start the series with the opening pair of Vaibhav and Abhishek.

India also dropped Samson for three games in England. Ishan Kishan has cemented his spot as the team's number three, and despite not being at his best in the United Kingdom (UK), he found form in Zimbabwe. Similarly, Tilak Varma's place is no doubt being the vice-captain despite some patchy form. Skipper Shreyas will bat at number four.

Nitish, alongside Shivam Dube and Axar Patel, are the team's all-rounders, which provide India with batting depth at number eight and also add to their bowling options. After missing the last two games in England and the tour of Zimbabwe due to injury, Varun Chakravarthy is back in the team and will be the team's sole specialist spinner.

India's Strongest XI if all 15 players fit: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

India Squad For Zimbabwe Tour: Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson [WK], Ishan Kishan [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana*