The India vs Afghanistan T20I series scheduled for November–December 2026 is the second bilateral T20I engagement between the two nations in 2026. It follows the three-match T20I series in September 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where Afghanistan hosted India as the designated home team at a neutral venue.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have developed a strong bilateral relationship, with Afghanistan using India as a base for several home series in recent years. This November–December leg is expected to continue that trend, providing Afghanistan with high-quality T20I match practice while giving India an opportunity to test bench strength and new combinations.

The series arrives shortly after India’s campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan (September–October), meaning both squads may feature players who competed at Aichi-Nagoya. It also serves as preparation for India’s upcoming white-ball assignments in the 2026–27 season.

India Squad Outlook

Shreyas Iyer is expected to continue as India’s T20I captain, having been confirmed in the role in June 2026. The squad is likely to mirror the September 2026 selection closely, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain and a core of explosive batters and spin-heavy bowling options.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — who became the youngest India squad member since Sachin Tendulkar — is expected to retain his place after a blockbuster IPL 2026. The pace attack will likely be led by Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, while the spin department features Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel.

Afghanistan Squad Outlook

Ibrahim Zadran is expected to retain the T20I captaincy after his first assignment in September 2026. The squad will be headlined by superstar spinner Rashid Khan, wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the mystery spin of Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq made his return in the September series after recovering from a stress fracture and is expected to feature again alongside Fazalhaq Farooqi and Abdullah Ahmadzai. All-rounders Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Nabi provide crucial balance.

Afghanistan has consistently used Indian venues as neutral home grounds for bilateral series. After hosting India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi in September 2026, the ACB may opt to rotate venues for the November–December leg to reach different fan bases. Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium and Dharamshala are both proven international venues with strong T20I records.

The BCCI typically confirms venues 4–6 weeks before a series, with pitch conditions and weather playing key roles in selection. November–December matches in North India benefit from cooler evenings and lower humidity, making them ideal for high-intensity T20 cricket.

The most recent bilateral T20I series between the two sides took place in September 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Afghanistan hosted the series as the designated home team at the neutral venue, with all three matches played at the same ground from 13–17 September.

India completed a 3-0 series sweep under captain Shreyas Iyer, continuing their unbeaten T20I record against Afghanistan. The series served as direct preparation for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, with both teams fielding near-identical squads to their continental campaigns.

Key performers for India included Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson with the bat, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi controlled the middle overs with their spin. For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided explosive starts, but the team struggled to contain India’s deep batting line-up in the death overs.

Broadcast details for the November–December 2026 series are expected to be confirmed closer to the series start. Based on recent BCCI bilateral agreements, the matches are likely to be telecast on the Star Sports Network and streamed live on JioHotstar in India.

The September 2026 series was streamed exclusively on FanCode, which acquired digital rights for that specific series. For the November–December leg, fans should check official BCCI and broadcast partner announcements for confirmed TV and digital platforms.

All matches are expected to begin at 7:00 PM IST to maximise prime-time viewership across the Indian subcontinent.