Team India T20 Squad: BCCI Makes 8 Changes for Afghanistan Series, Sanju Samson Returns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member Team India squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning September 13, 2026.

The biggest talking point is the number of changes made to the squad. Compared with the team that featured in India’s recent Zimbabwe tour, eight players have returned to the T20I setup, bringing several senior and established names back into the side.

India had registered a 3-0 series victory over Zimbabwe, with a relatively young squad being given an opportunity. The Afghanistan series, however, sees the return of several experienced players.

Eight Players Return

The eight players returning to the squad are Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Arshdeep Singh.

Meanwhile, players such as Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, and Suryansh Shedge, who were part of the Zimbabwe tour, have been left out of the Afghanistan squad.

Sanju Samson’s Return Adds Selection Twist

One of the biggest talking points is the return of Sanju Samson.

The presence of 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi makes the top-order combination particularly interesting. If Suryavanshi opens alongside Abhishek Sharma, finding a place for Samson in the playing XI could become a major selection challenge for the team management.

Suryavanshi has retained his place in the squad after an impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, continuing what has been a remarkable rise for the young batter.

Bumrah Set for T20I Return

Another major development is the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah. The star fast bowler is set to return to T20I cricket for the first time since March 2026, provided he is declared fully fit.

Bumrah isn't the only player whose fitness will be closely monitored. Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy have also been included while recovering from injury concerns.

Their availability for the actual matches will depend on their fitness status.

Full India Squad for Afghanistan T20Is

The 15-member squad includes:

Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.

The squad offers the team management several combinations across batting, spin, and pace, but the biggest question could be how the top order is structured with both Samson and Suryavanshi available.

Afghanistan Series Schedule

All three T20Is will be played in New Delhi:

• September 13: 1st T20I—India vs. Afghanistan
• September 15: 2nd T20I—India vs. Afghanistan
• September 17: 3rd T20I—India vs. Afghanistan

With senior players returning and several players competing for limited spots, the Afghanistan series could provide an important test of India’s T20 combinations ahead of future assignments.