India captain Shreyas Iyer has signalled that the team management could reshuffle the playing XI for the third and final T20I against Afghanistan, with an eye on giving fringe players much-needed match exposure, after India sealed the three-match series with a dominant seven-wicket victory in New Delhi on Tuesday, 15 September.

Why Changes Are on the Cards

With the series already wrapped up 2-0, the decider carries little pressure on the result front, giving the team management room to experiment. Iyer made clear that the final game would be used purposefully — both to let squad members acclimatise to local conditions and to test combinations ahead of future assignments.

'We want all of them to get used to the wicket and the conditions and also get some practice. So it would be a nice game to give opportunities to the players, especially those who have been sitting out, and also change a little bit in the combination as well,' Iyer said after the second match.

A More Complete Performance in the Second T20I

Iyer expressed satisfaction with how India responded after winning the opening T20I, saying the team had set itself the target of a comprehensive victory in the second game — and delivered on it.

'Looking at the last match performance and coming into this one, we were demanding a comprehensive win, and today was the right example of it,' he said. The captain's remarks underline a growing confidence within the squad about execution under pressure.

Iyer on His Captaincy Journey

Beyond the tactical outlook, Iyer offered a candid assessment of his own captaincy experience, acknowledging a challenging start but stressing the importance of mental balance. 'It was a tough pill to swallow at the start, but the journey is always going to be a roller coaster. You need to be in equilibrium as much as possible and see to it that you enjoy the moment and not think much about what has happened in the past,' he said.

He also reiterated a philosophy he has spoken about previously: 'The more you embrace the situation, the better it gets.' The remarks suggest a captain consciously building resilience into his leadership approach.

What the Third T20I Could Reveal

The series finale now doubles as a scouting exercise. With several players having had limited outings across the first two matches, the third T20I could surface new names and combinations that India's selectors may factor into future squads. Notably, bench-strength assessment in low-stakes series finales has been a recurring strategy for Indian management across formats — a pattern that carries additional weight when a major tournament cycle is approaching.

The third T20I against Afghanistan is expected to offer a telling glimpse into India's squad depth and the captain's preferred combinations going forward.