Historic first! Shreyas Iyer’s India to play as ‘visiting team’ in New Delhi against Afghanistan; report reveals unique arrangement

India set for a unique ‘away’ series at home

International cricket is set to witness a historic first as Afghanistan will officially host India in a three-match T20 International series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi this September.

According to reports, the series will be played on September 13, 15, and 17, with Shreyas Iyer’s Indian side featuring as the designated visiting team, despite all three matches being held in India. The unusual arrangement has never been seen before in bilateral cricket involving the two nations.

The series is expected to serve as a key warm-up for both teams ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where the men’s cricket competition begins later in September.

Why Afghanistan is hosting India in New Delhi

Although the fixtures will take place in New Delhi, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) will be the official host.

Due to the lack of suitable international cricket infrastructure and security challenges in Afghanistan, the national team has been forced to stage its home matches in neutral venues for several years. India has previously hosted Afghanistan’s home fixtures in Greater Noida, Dehradun, and Lucknow, while the United Arab Emirates has also served as a regular home base.

However, this marks the first occasion that India will travel as the designated away side for a bilateral series played entirely on Indian soil.

Important preparation before the Asian Games

The September series comes at an important stage for both teams as they finalize preparations for the Asian Games 2026.

For Shreyas Iyer, who is leading India’s T20 side, the matches offer another opportunity to fine-tune combinations and build momentum before the continental tournament.

The Indian team is currently touring Zimbabwe, where it began the three-match T20I series with a convincing victory in the opening game.

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India looking to regain consistency

India heads into the Afghanistan series after a challenging run in international cricket.

Earlier this summer, Shreyas Iyer’s side endured a disappointing European tour, losing the T20I series 2-0 against Ireland before suffering a 4-0 defeat to England.

In the subsequent ODI series led by Shubman Gill, India lost 2-1 to England despite winning the opening match. Senior players including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah featured in that campaign.

Before returning to New Delhi for the Afghanistan series, India is also scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series.

Historic milestone for India-Afghanistan cricket ties

The upcoming T20I series represents another significant chapter in the growing cricketing relationship between India and Afghanistan.

While Afghanistan has relied on Indian venues for several home assignments over the years, welcoming India as the official visiting side is a landmark moment that underlines the close cooperation between the two cricket boards.

With both teams eager to build winning momentum ahead of the Asian Games, the historic series promises to carry significance beyond just the results on the field.