Cricket history is set to be rewritten this September as the Indian national team prepares to don the role of the 'visiting' side on home turf. For the first time ever, Team India will be relegated to the visitors' dressing room at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi for their highly anticipated three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, commencing September 13, 2026. This unique arrangement stems from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) holding official host status for the series, a significant administrative detail that reverses traditional home-and-away protocols despite the matches being played in India. IND vs AFG 1st T20I To Go Ahead As Scheduled in Delhi, Confirms DDCA.

The series marks a pivotal moment in the cricketing relationship between the two nations, highlighting Afghanistan's growing presence in international cricket and their continued reliance on India as a neutral venue for their home fixtures due to underdeveloped infrastructure and security concerns in their own country.

Series Schedule and Venue

The entire three-match T20I series will unfold at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The matches are scheduled for prime time, offering fans an exciting spectacle.

Match	Date	Start Time (IST)	Venue
1st T20I	September 13, 2026	7:30 PM	Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
2nd T20I	September 15, 2026	7:30 PM	Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
3rd T20I	September 17, 2026	7:30 PM	Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Dressing Room Dynamics

The designated 'home' dressing room at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, named after former India cricketer Raman Lamba, will be utilized by the Afghanistan squad throughout the series. Conversely, the Indian team will occupy the 'away' dressing room, which bears the name of former Indian player Prakash Bhandari. This unprecedented scenario underscores the administrative nuances of international cricket, where the official host country dictates such on-ground logistical arrangements.

"It will be a unique view as Indian players will come out of the visitors' dressing room named after former India player Prakash Bhandari," a Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official stated, as reported by The Indian Express. Yash Thakur Replaces Injured Harshit Rana in India's Squads for IND vs AFG T20I 2026 and Asian Games 2026

Squads and Key Players

Both teams have announced strong squads for the series. Shreyas Iyer will lead the Indian side, which includes young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the returning Jasprit Bumrah (subject to fitness clearance). Afghanistan will be captained by Ibrahim Zadran, with star spinner Rashid Khan and fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq forming a formidable core.

Head-to-Head Record

India holds a dominant record against Afghanistan in the T20I format.

Statistic	India	Afghanistan
Matches Played	9	9
Wins	8	0
Tied (India won SO)	1	0
No Result	1	1

The most recent T20I series between the two sides in January 2024 saw India emerge victorious with a 3-0 clean sweep. India also secured a 3-0 win in a recent ODI series against Afghanistan in June 2026.

This unique series promises to be an intriguing chapter in bilateral cricket, not just for the on-field action, but also for the administrative precedent it sets regarding host nation protocols and dressing room allocations.