India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Today: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Finally Get His Chance?

India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Today: Playing XI, Match Time, Delhi Pitch Report & Latest Updates

India and Afghanistan meet in the third and final T20I in Delhi today, September 17, with the series already decided but several important questions still unanswered.

India have taken an unassailable 2–0 lead after winning both of the opening matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The final game now gives Shreyas Iyer and the Indian team management an opportunity to test their bench strength, while Afghanistan have one last chance to finish the series with a statement win.

The biggest selection question before the India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I today is whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will finally get an opportunity. The 15-year-old was part of India’s squad but did not feature in either of the first two matches.

India could also consider managing the workload of some established players with more international cricket approaching.

For complete coverage of the series, readers can also follow our Afghanistan vs India T20I Series 2026 updates and the latest India vs Afghanistan Playing XI news.

India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Match Details

The BCCI confirmed that all three matches of the series would be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi between September 13 and September 17.

Interestingly, Afghanistan are officially the home team for the series even though the matches are being played in India. Afghanistan have used venues in India for home fixtures in recent years.

Official sources: BCCI | ICC

India Already Lead the Series 2–0

India enter the final T20I with the series secured.

The second match again showed the difference between the two teams. Afghanistan posted 159/8, but India completed the chase in only 14.5 overs, winning by seven wickets.

Sanju Samson produced the standout batting performance with 57 from 22 balls, while Abhishek Sharma added 39 from 19 balls.

Nitish Kumar Reddy had earlier made a major impact with the ball, returning 3/24 as Afghanistan struggled to build a sufficiently large total.

The performance was particularly significant for Samson after a quiet opening game. His attacking innings has also made India’s selection decision for the final match more interesting.

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play the 3rd T20I?

This could become the biggest talking point before the toss.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not played in the first two T20Is, despite being included in India’s squad.

With the series now won, India have more freedom to experiment.

One possible move would be to rest one of the established top-order players and bring Sooryavanshi into the XI. However, there was no official confirmation of such a change at the time of publication.

That distinction is important: Sooryavanshi’s inclusion remains a possibility, not a confirmed selection.

India could alternatively retain the batting combination that worked so effectively in the second T20I and make changes elsewhere.

India Probable Playing XI for 3rd T20I

Based on the first two matches, current squad availability and the possibility of rotation, India’s probable XI could look like this:

1. Abhishek Sharma / Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
2. Sanju Samson
3. Ishan Kishan
4. Shreyas Iyer (c)
5. Tilak Varma
6. Shivam Dube
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
8. Axar Patel
9. Ravi Bishnoi
10. Arshdeep Singh / Yash Thakur
11. Jasprit Bumrah

Note: This is a probable combination. The official playing XI will only be confirmed at the toss.

The most interesting decisions concern Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur and Washington Sundar.

India may also decide that continuity is more valuable than widespread rotation and retain most of the team from the second match.

Varun Chakaravarthy Ruled Out

One change India cannot reverse is the absence of Varun Chakaravarthy.

The spinner experienced discomfort in the left side of his abdomen while bowling during the opening T20I. Scans subsequently revealed a side strain, ruling him out of the remainder of the Afghanistan series.

Varun had impressed before suffering the setback, returning figures of 1/16 from four overs in the opening match.

Ravi Bishnoi came into India’s XI for the second T20I and therefore remains the most straightforward spin option alongside Axar Patel.

Washington Sundar provides another possibility if India want additional batting depth.

Afghanistan Probable Playing XI

Afghanistan have fewer reasons to experiment because they are trying to avoid a 3–0 series defeat.

Their probable combination could be:

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz
2. Ibrahim Zadran (c)
3. Darwish Rasooli
4. Azmatullah Omarzai
5. Mohammad Nabi
6. Gulbadin Naib
7. Rashid Khan
8. Noor Ahmad
9. Naveen-ul-Haq
10. Fazalhaq Farooqi
11. Abdullah Ahmadzai

Afghanistan’s experience through Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Naveen-ul-Haq remains crucial.

Rashid showed his all-round value in the second match. He scored a useful 28 and then took all three Indian wickets to fall during the chase.

Delhi Pitch Report for India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I

Two matches at the same venue have already provided useful evidence about how the surface is behaving.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium traditionally offers short boundaries and plenty of scoring opportunities once batters settle. The current series has reinforced the value of aggressive batting.

India chased 157 in just 13.4 overs in the first T20I and then chased 160 in 14.5 overs in the second.

Those two results tell us something important: a total around 155–160 has not been enough against India’s batting lineup.

Afghanistan may therefore need a substantially stronger batting performance if they bat first in the final game.

At the same time, the pitch is not simply a batting surface. Slower bowling can become effective when bowlers change pace and attack the stumps, while quality spinners can still create problems through the middle overs.

The small dimensions of the ground mean execution becomes particularly important.

Is Bowling First the Better Option in Delhi?

There is a strong tactical case for chasing.

India have successfully chased in both matches of this series, and the batting side has been able to attack with a clearly defined target.

Dew can also become a consideration during evening matches in Delhi, potentially making it harder for bowlers to grip the ball later in the game.

That does not guarantee that the captain winning the toss will bowl first, but recent results at this venue give teams a clear reason to consider chasing.

We have analysed the toss angle separately in our India vs Afghanistan Toss Prediction Today coverage.

Three Players to Watch in the 3rd T20I

Sanju Samson

Samson’s 57 off 22 balls changed the tone of the second match.

He attacked from the start and helped India take control of the chase before Afghanistan had an opportunity to create scoreboard pressure.

Another strong performance would further strengthen India’s top-order options ahead of upcoming assignments.

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek has been one of India’s most productive batters in the series.

He scored 82 from 32 balls in the opening T20I and followed it with 39 from 19 balls in the second.

That gives him 121 runs from the first two matches, making him Afghanistan’s biggest new-ball challenge heading into the finale.

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan need their biggest match-winners to influence the final game, and Rashid remains central to that challenge.

His three wickets in the second T20I showed that even India’s powerful batting lineup can be tested when he finds rhythm.

How India handle Rashid through the middle overs could again shape the contest.

What Afghanistan Need to Change

Afghanistan’s biggest issue has not necessarily been getting starts. It has been turning those starts into a total capable of putting India under pressure.

India chased successfully in both matches with plenty of deliveries remaining.

For Afghanistan to challenge in the third T20I, three areas become important:

• A stronger Powerplay without losing multiple early wickets
• At least one substantial top-order innings
• Better control against India’s aggressive opening batters

Ibrahim Zadran’s team also need wickets early. Allowing India to establish momentum in the Powerplay has made defending totals extremely difficult.

India vs Afghanistan Series So Far

The pattern is striking.

Afghanistan have produced totals in almost the same range in both games, while India have chased them down comfortably.

That means the final T20I is not simply about Afghanistan scoring a few more runs. They need to find a way to disrupt India’s top order before the chase gathers momentum.

Why the 3rd T20I Still Matters

A 2–0 scoreline might make the final match look like a dead rubber, but there is considerably more at stake.

For India, it provides an opportunity to test combinations and potentially give another squad member game time. Players such as Sooryavanshi and Yash Thakur remain part of the selection discussion.

For Afghanistan, beating India would provide a significant confidence boost after two difficult defeats.

There is also a broader selection angle for India. The team will soon turn its attention towards its next international assignments, making every competitive match valuable for deciding combinations.

Fans looking for more numbers from this rivalry can check our India vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record in T20Is and follow the latest updates through Cricket News Today.

Final Word

The India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I today may be the final match of an already-decided series, but India’s possible team changes give the contest a fresh angle.

Sanju Samson enters the match after a rapid fifty, Abhishek Sharma has been Afghanistan’s biggest problem with the bat, and the possibility of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi getting an opportunity adds another layer of interest.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, need a significantly stronger performance—particularly with the bat—to prevent India from completing a 3–0 series sweep.

The final playing XIs will be known at the toss, and any changes could significantly alter the balance of the contest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rajani Kant

Cricket Writer & Editor at TeamStats.in

Rajani Kant is a cricket writer and editor at TeamStats.in, covering cricket statistics, team records, player performances, match results and important developments from international cricket. His focus is on presenting cricket information in a clear, useful and easy-to-understand format.

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