Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar picked for India vs Afghanistan T20Is with fitness riders
Synopsis
Bumrah is back — but only conditionally. The BCCI has named India's squad for the Afghanistan T20Is starting 13 September, with four players including Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy all carrying fitness riders. Hardik Pandya, despite reports, is absent.
Key Takeaways
The BCCI announced India's squad for the India vs Afghanistan T20I series on 1 September , with matches on 13, 15, and 17 September at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi .
Jasprit Bumrah , Harshit Rana , Washington Sundar , and Nitish Kumar Reddy are included subject to fitness clearance .
Bumrah has been out since an impact injury in the England ODIs in July and also missed India's 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka .
Shreyas Iyer continues as captain; Sanju Samson returns after missing the Zimbabwe T20Is.
Hardik Pandya is not in the squad, contrary to pre-selection reports.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday, 1 September announced a 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, to be hosted at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi from 13 September. Four players — fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, and all-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy — have been named subject to fitness clearance.
Key Selections and Fitness Concerns
Jasprit Bumrah is the headline returnee, having been sidelined since sustaining an impact injury during the England ODIs in July. He subsequently missed India's Test series against Sri Lanka, which India won 1-0. His inclusion, even with a fitness caveat, signals the selectors' intent to reintegrate their premier fast bowler ahead of a packed international calendar.
Washington Sundar was similarly absent from the Sri Lanka Tests after a hamstring injury picked up during the England ODIs. Harshit Rana returns after a hamstring strain ruled him out of those same England ODIs — an injury that followed hard on the heels of his recovery from the knee problem that caused him to miss the T20 World Cup 2026.
Leadership and Squad Composition
Shreyas Iyer continues as captain, with Tilak Varma retained as vice-captain. Sanju Samson is back in the wicketkeeper slot after being left out of the Zimbabwe T20Is in July. Regulars Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakravarthy all retain their places.
Notably, Hardik Pandya has not been included, contrary to earlier speculation. Several players from the Zimbabwe tour — Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, and Mayank Yadav — also miss out as the pace attack reverts to its first-choice options.
Match Schedule
All three T20Is will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with Afghanistan serving as the nominal hosts. The matches are scheduled for 13, 15, and 17 September.
Full Squad
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 Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana*. (*Subject to fitness clearance.)
The series offers India an early read on whether their injury-hit pace stocks have recovered in time for the demanding stretch of cricket that follows.
Point of View
Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy conditionally suggests the BCCI and selectors are walking a tightrope between managing workload risk and keeping first-choice options match-ready. Bumrah's recurring injury absences, in particular, raise a structural question about how India manages its most valuable fast bowler across three formats. The exclusion of Pandya, meanwhile, quietly closes another chapter in a selection saga that has dragged on for months.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the fitness-doubtful players in India's squad for the Afghanistan T20Is?
Four players are named subject to fitness clearance: fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, and all-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Their participation will be confirmed only after medical assessments closer to the series.
Why was Jasprit Bumrah not playing before this series?
Bumrah sustained an impact injury during the England ODIs in July 2026 and has been out of action since. He also missed India's Test series against Sri Lanka, which India won 1-0.
Where and when will the India vs Afghanistan T20I series be played?
All three T20Is will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, on 13, 15, and 17 September 2026, with Afghanistan as the nominal hosts.
Is Hardik Pandya in India's squad for the Afghanistan T20Is?
No. Despite pre-selection reports, Hardik Pandya has not been included in the squad announced by the BCCI on 1 September.
Who is captaining India for the Afghanistan T20I series?
Shreyas Iyer continues as captain, with Tilak Varma as his vice-captain — the same leadership pair that led India in the Zimbabwe T20Is in July.
