Axar Patel Not Alone! Indian T20 Players On Thin Ice vs Afghanistan

Axar Patel could face BCCI heat if he fails vs Afghanistan [Source: AFP]

With the Test matches against Sri Lanka over, India will take on Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, starting on September 13. The matches provide Team India with the perfect chance to get some match practice before the Asian Games 2026 commence.

The BCCI revealed India’s squad for the three-match T20I series on Tuesday, and all the players who are part of the Asian Games squad have been picked by the selectors.

The matches against the Afghans cannot be taken lightly, as several Indian players will be under the firing line, and they need to prove their worth by delivering the goods. In this article, we take a look at the Indian players for whom the Afghanistan matches are make-or-break, but first, let us look at the Indian squad.

India T20I squad vs Afghanistan

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

*Subject to fitness clearance

Now, let us look at the players, who have to be at their best in the series to keep their place safe in the T20I squad.

1) Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson was India’s star player in the T20 World Cup 2026, but everything fell apart post the marquee event. He was declared the Player of the Tournament in the World Cup, but in the subsequent series against Ireland and England, he failed to deliver the goods.

Ireland found his weakness, and England carried forward the momentum as Samson couldn’t score big, and he was not picked in the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

(Samson stats on UK tour)

• As the data reveals, Samson had a horrendous run on the UK tour, as he only scored 5 runs against Ireland and 28 against the English side. Moreover, the strike rate was also questionable.
• After the first T20I against England, he was dropped for the next three games; however, the Kerala batter received a recall for the series finale.
• With Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the preferred opening choices, every opportunity that Samson gets in the Afghanistan series has to be vital for the batter. He needs to make it count, and one single failure could possibly lead to his exit from the team.

2) Axar Patel

The hero of the T20 World Cup 2024, Axar Patel’s T20I career has gone downhill in 2026. He has struggled with the bat and has not been at his best with the ball.

Moreover, the Delhi Capitals captain had an ordinary IPL 2026 as question marks have been raised about his place in the Indian T20I team.

(Axar Patel T20I stats)

• As the data reveals, in 16 T20I games this year, the all-rounder has scored just 69 runs, with a strike rate of 97, and an average of 6.27.
• Moreover, with the ball, the spinner has scalped 19 wickets, with an economy of 9.12, as he has struggled to contain runs.

Also Read: Deserving Players Who Missed Out On India's Squad For Afghanistan T20I Series 2026

• If Axar fails to perform against Afghanistan, the BCCI might look to replace him with other all-rounders in the T20I squad as several players are waiting in the wings.

3) Varun Chakaravarthy

Injuries have caught up with Varun Chakaravarthy, who has struggled with knee and hamstring issues in 2026. He played in IPL 2026 in pain, and after just three T20I games against England, he was ruled out of the fourth and fifth T20I matches and the subsequent Zimbabwe tour.

Injuries have pushed Chakaravarthy on the back foot, and 2026 has not been kinder to him in terms of wickets.

(Chakaravarthy T20I stats in 2026)

• In 15 T20Is this year, the wily spinner has picked 19 wickets, with an average of 24.58, and an economy of 9.34. In fact, his economy rate in 2026 has been his worst since he made his India debut in 2021.
• He struggled against England and had an economy of 10.29. Hence, the India vs Afghanistan T20Is is crucial for the spin-bowler. If he fails to deliver the goods, India might have to look elsewhere to find his long-term replacement.

Conclusion

The upcoming India vs Afghanistan T20Is hold utmost importance for Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Axar has blown hot and cold, and he could be next in line for an exit if he doesn't improve his numbers against Afghanistan.

Samson, on the other hand, has his place in jeopardy, and one failure could lead to his axe from the team. Similarly, Chakravarthy has sustained numerous injuries in 2026, and if the player fails to pick wickets, India might be tempted to find an alternative.

Also Read: Dewald Brevis Closes In On Ishan Kishan In Latest T20I Rankings