Photo via Hindustan Times

Fit-again players will be given time to settle in: Shreyas Iyer ahead of the first T20I against Afghanistan in New Delhi

Ahead of the opening match of the three-game T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer underscored the necessity of allowing recovering athletes sufficient match play to rebuild their self-belief. Speedster Jasprit Bumrah is poised for action following an absence that began in July, joined by fellow returning players Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

The team leadership faces further lineup dilemmas among the batting ranks, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vying for positions, while wicketkeeper is slated to be fit despite suffering a minor strain tied to recent Duleep Trophy physical demands.