For the first time, Afghanistan will host India in an international series. Starting on September 13, the three-match Twenty20 International series will take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Afghanistan had recently come to India for one Test and three ODI matches, losing all the games to Men in Blue.
There was a lot of chatter about the Indian squad that was announced, firstly seeing four players’ selection based on fitness and then some undeserving names picked. Let’s examine the three players who were fortunate enough to make the Indian squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan.
Here are the 3 Undeserving picks in India’s T20I squad for the AFG vs IND series:
3. Ravi Bishnoi
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi made his India T20I comeback despite a poor IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals. He managed only 11 wickets and was even benched by the franchise. He played one T20I in England and went for 60 runs. He did pick three wickets in 3 T20Is in Zimbabwe, and despite poor outings, has been named for Afghanistan T20Is. It remains to be seen whether he gets any game time or not.
2. Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar has become the unlikely all-format player for India despite his insignificant performances with the bat and the ball. He has done well in Tests, with 937 runs and 41 wickets in 18 games. But in T20Is, he has 51 wickets in 62 games and has made 279 runs. He is coming off a hamstring injury without any game time, and including him directly in the squad robbed someone better of an opportunity to play for India.
1. Axar Patel
Former India T20I vice-captain Axar Patel was picked in Afghanistan T20Is after missing the Zimbabwe tour. Against England in T20Is, he managed just 2 wickets and 19 runs in the five-game series. Before that, he had taken 2 wickets in 2 T20Is against Ireland, and his form with the bat and the ball hasn’t been that good. If the Arun Jaitley Stadium turns out to be flat, there is also a chance that Patel will be outright taken to the cleaners in Delhi.
