India will announce their T20I squad in a couple of days [Source: AFP]The stage is set as the India vs Sri Lanka Test series ends, and the team will now focus on the upcoming Afghanistan challenge as the two sides collide in a three-match series starting September 13. The two sides recently collided in a one-off Test and three ODI games, which India won comfortably.The T20I leg of the tour will begin in September, and according to reports, India will announce its star-studded squad in a couple of days.In this article, we take a look at India’s predicted T20I squad for the home series against Afghanistan, with a couple of surprising changes.Openers and top order batters: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan KishanAbhishek Sharma: Perhaps, India’s most destructive T20I opener at the moment, Abhishek Sharma has blown hot and cold in 2026, and while some of his performances were average, he needs just one quality knock to get his form back, and India will back him to deliver the goods.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The rising star of Indian T20I cricket, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, failed on the England tour, but he roared back amongst run-getters in the Zimbabwe series, and most likely, he’ll partner Abhishek at the top.Sanju Samson: Sanju Samson was dropped for the Zimbabwe tour, but according to reports, the players who have been picked for the Asian Games are most likely to be picked for the Afghanistan series, and hence, Samson is expected to get a nod. However, he might not get a place in the playing XI.Ishan Kishan: India has shown immense faith in Ishan Kishan, and he was the first-choice keeper on that tour. The batter is likely to bat at 3 and will also be given the keeping responsibility.Middle-order and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar PatelShreyas Iyer: The captain of the Indian T20I team, Shreyas Iyer, has improved his batting numbers under his own guidance, but there are still question marks over his captaincy credentials, and the Afghanistan series will provide him with an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong.Also Read: Why BCCI Has Kept Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal Away From India's ODI SquadShivam Dube: A key player in the Indian middle-order, Shivam Dube can score runs at a rapid rate and, if needed, can also chip in with the ball. He can be used as a floater by the Indian team.Tilak Varma: Just like Abhishek, Tilak Varma has blown hot and cold; however, he remains a key player in the T20I setup, and the southpaw will most likely be used in a new role (finisher), which he has embraced with perfection.Nitish Reddy: Nitish Reddy has been nursing an injury, but if he is fit, the all-rounder is likely to slot in directly into the Indian playing XI. He can be used as a finisher, and at the same time, Reddy can take wickets with his medium-pace bowling.Washington Sundar: The same is the case with Washington Sundar. If he is fit, the off-break bowler will be included in the playing XI, and if the wickets are on the slower side, he can also be included in the playing XI.Axar Patel: Axar Patel has not been trusted in the ODI and Test formats, but in the T20Is, he remains one of the first names on the team sheet. Gautam Gambhir has often used the southpaw as a floater, and with the ball, he can give four quality overs.Bowlers: Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank YadavVarun Chakaravarthy: According to the latest report, Varun Chakaravarthy is fit, and India will need his magic on the field to bamboozle the Afghanistan batters. He’ll be one of the first names in the playing XI.Also Read: India T20I Squad vs Afghanistan Announcement Date Revealed; 3 Players DoubtfulRavi Bishnoi: Ravi Bishnoi had a horrendous UK tour, where he conceded runs for fun. However, he still remains one of the best exponents of the googly, and Team India would hope the leg-break bowler could find his old form again against the Afghans.Prince Yadav: There are question marks over Harshit Rana’s fitness, and hence, the Men in Blue are most likely to pick the tearaway pacer, Prince Yadav, in the squad. He has done well for India in patches, and the right-arm seamer can be used inside the powerplay to dismantle the Afghan batting lineup.Arshdeep Singh: Arguably India’s best T20 bowler alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh will be the new ball bowler in the T20I series against Afghanistan, and he can also come in handy in the death overs with his pinpoint yorkers.Mayank Yadav: Mayank Yadav impressed everyone on his comeback during the Zimbabwe series, and with no timeline on Bumrah’s return, Mayank can be the perfect replacement in the T20I squad vs Afghanistan.India's predicted squad for T20I series vs AfghanistanShreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Mayank YadavAlso Read: West Indies Spinner Vitel Lawes Achieves What Sunil Narine Couldn't In CPL History
