India will aim to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan when the teams meet in Delhi on Tuesday. The match comes after India's dominant seven-wicket victory in the series opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
India restricted Afghanistan to 156 in the first T20I before chasing the target in only 13.4 overs. Abhishek Sharma produced the standout performance with a 32-ball 82, while the Indian bowling attack largely kept Afghanistan under control.
The same conditions could again favour India. Afghanistan's spin attack, led by Rashid Khan and including Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmed and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, struggled to find assistance from the batting-friendly Delhi surface. Abhishek was particularly effective against the spinners, scoring 46 runs from 20 balls.
Afghanistan could consider bringing Naveen-ul-Haq into the XI after his return from an injury layoff. However, he has not played competitive cricket since December 2025. The team will also look to avoid overreacting after one defeat and adapt better to the conditions.
India's biggest selection question is at the top of the order. Sanju Samson scored only 10 in the opening match, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains on the bench. The 15-year-old has already attracted attention after being left out despite his performances on the Zimbabwe tour. Former cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Kris Srikkanth have also questioned the handling of his selection.
India could nevertheless give Samson another opportunity before making a change to the opening combination.
The bowling department has suffered a setback with Varun Chakravarthy reportedly ruled out of the remainder of the series after picking up another injury. Ravi Bishnoi is expected to replace him, although Washington Sundar could also be considered.
The second T20I begins at 7:30 pm IST on Tuesday in Delhi. The weather is expected to remain largely clear during the match, although an afternoon shower remains possible.
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