India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026 Live: India and Afghanistan are facing each other in the third and final T20I of the series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi today, September 17. Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bowl first, putting India into bat.

India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The hosts won both of the first two matches by seven wickets. Afghanistan will now look to finish the series with a victory, while India are aiming to complete a clean sweep.

The third T20I also gives both teams another opportunity to assess their combinations ahead of the Asian Games.

IND vs AFG 3rd T20I Live: Afghanistan Win Toss

India national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team match scorecard: Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and chose to field first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

India will therefore bat first and attempt to put a competitive total on the scoreboard. Afghanistan's decision also gives their bowlers the chance to attack India's top order with the new ball.

India have chased successfully in both matches of the series. This time, however, Shreyas Iyer's side must set the target before attempting to defend it.

The match started at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM.

India Make One Change in Playing XI

India have made one change to their playing XI for the series finale.

Yash Thakur has been brought into the team in place of Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep had played in the first two matches and was India's leading wicket-taker in the series before the final game.

The decision gives Yash Thakur an opportunity to feature in the final T20I.

One of the major talking points before the match was whether young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would be included after India had already secured the series.

However, Sooryavanshi has not been included in the playing XI for the third match.

India Playing XI for 3rd T20I

India's confirmed playing XI includes:

• Abhishek Sharma

• Sanju Samson

• Ishan Kishan

• Shreyas Iyer (Captain)

• Tilak Varma

• Shivam Dube

• Nitish Kumar Reddy

• Axar Patel

• Ravi Bishnoi

• Jasprit Bumrah

• Yash Thakur

The combination gives India a mix of aggressive batting, pace bowling and spin options.

Jasprit Bumrah remains one of the key players in India's bowling attack, while Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel provide options in the spin department.

Afghanistan Make Changes for the Final Match

Afghanistan have also changed their combination for the final T20I.

Captain Ibrahim Zadran will lead the side, with experienced players such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan included.

Afghanistan need a stronger performance from their batting unit after posting totals of 156/8 and 159/8 in the first two matches.

The visitors have produced several individual contributions during the series, but they have struggled to maintain scoring momentum across a complete innings.

India Lead the Series 2-0

India entered the third match with a 2-0 advantage after winning the opening two games by seven wickets.

In the first T20I, Afghanistan scored 156/8 in their 20 overs. India then chased the target successfully, reaching 157/3 in 13.4 overs.

Abhishek Sharma was the main contributor in that match. He scored 82 runs from only 32 deliveries and played a major role in India's comfortable chase.

The second match followed a similar pattern.

Afghanistan scored 159/8 after batting first. India reached 163/3 in only 14.5 overs to secure another seven-wicket victory.

Sanju Samson produced an outstanding innings in that match, scoring 57 runs from 22 balls. Abhishek Sharma also contributed 39 from 19 deliveries, while Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38.

Those results gave India an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Abhishek Sharma Has Been India's Leading Batter

Abhishek Sharma has been one of the most important players for India during the series.

He scored 82 in the opening game and followed that with 39 in the second match. His aggressive batting has allowed India to make fast starts during their successful run chases.

After two matches, Abhishek had scored 121 runs in the series.

With India batting first in the third T20I, his role is slightly different. Instead of chasing a specific target, he will need to help India establish a strong platform for the middle order.

His ability to score quickly during the powerplay could be important if India want to post a large total.

Sanju Samson Continues as Opener

Sanju Samson is another Indian batter attracting attention in the final match.

After making only 10 runs in the opening T20I, Samson responded with a powerful 57 from 22 balls in the second match.

His innings included several boundaries and sixes and helped India take control of the chase early.

Samson has retained his place for the third match and will open alongside Abhishek Sharma.

The pair will face Afghanistan's new-ball attack at the start of India's innings.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Again Misses Out

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's absence is one of the notable selection stories from the third T20I.

There had been considerable discussion about whether India would give the young batter an opportunity after winning the series with a match remaining.

India captain Shreyas Iyer had previously indicated that the final game could provide opportunities to players who had been waiting on the bench.

However, the team has opted to retain the main combination for the final match, meaning Sooryavanshi remains outside the playing XI.

India's top order has also performed strongly during the series, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan all making useful contributions.

Afghanistan Need More Runs

Afghanistan's main concern heading into the third T20I is their batting performance.

The visitors scored 156 runs in the first match and 159 in the second. Both totals gave India an opportunity to chase without facing sustained pressure.

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran has previously highlighted the need for his team to turn totals in the 150-160 range into much bigger scores.

The team has several experienced batters who can accelerate during the middle and final overs. However, they need more consistent contributions throughout the innings.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi will have important roles if Afghanistan are to build a competitive total when they bat.

Rashid Khan Remains a Key Player for Afghanistan

Rashid Khan continues to be one of Afghanistan's most important players.

The Afghanistan captain and star spinner has already taken wickets during the series and remains a major threat to India's middle order.

Rashid took all three Indian wickets to fall during Afghanistan's second T20I defeat. However, India's strong start meant that the damage had already been limited.

With Afghanistan bowling first in the final match, Rashid will have an opportunity to attack India's batters before they establish a large partnership.

His contest against India's aggressive top and middle order could be one of the key individual battles of the game.

Jasprit Bumrah Leads India's Bowling Attack

India have also benefited from the return of Jasprit Bumrah.

The experienced fast bowler has provided India with control during the opening overs and remains a major part of the team's bowling plans.

Bumrah will have an important role when Afghanistan begin their chase.

India also have Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi as additional bowling options. The combination gives captain Shreyas Iyer several choices depending on the match situation.

Arshdeep Singh Rested for the Final T20I

Arshdeep Singh has been left out of India's XI for the third match.

He had been India's leading wicket-taker after the first two T20Is, taking five wickets across the opening games.

Yash Thakur replaces him in the playing XI.

The change gives Thakur an opportunity to make an impact in the final match while India continue to assess their bowling resources.

Varun Chakaravarthy Remains Unavailable

India are also without spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for the remainder of the series.

Chakaravarthy suffered a side strain during the opening T20I and was subsequently ruled out of the remaining matches.

His absence has provided more opportunities for other spin options, including Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel.

What Afghanistan Need to Do

Afghanistan need a better start with both bat and ball.

With the ball, the first priority will be to remove India's dangerous opening pair. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have already shown that they can score quickly once they settle at the crease.

Afghanistan also need to prevent India from building a large partnership during the middle overs.

When Afghanistan bat, the top order will need to avoid early wickets and maintain a strong scoring rate. The middle order has shown flashes of attacking cricket, but the team needs contributions from several players in the same innings.

Arun Jaitley Stadium Hosts the Series Finale

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi is hosting all three T20Is in this series.

The ground can produce entertaining T20 cricket, with the relatively short boundaries providing opportunities for batters to score boundaries.

However, bowlers who maintain good lines and lengths can still create pressure.

Since Afghanistan chose to field first, India will have the first opportunity to assess the conditions and establish a total.

IND vs AFG 3rd T20I Live Telecast and Streaming

The third T20I is being played from 7:30 PM IST at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

In India, the match is being televised on the Sony Sports Network. Fans can also watch the live stream through FanCode.

The match is the final fixture of the three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan.

Series Result Already Decided

The result of the series has already been determined.

India won the first two matches and moved into an unassailable 2-0 lead. The third match will therefore not affect the overall series winner.

However, the final game remains important for both sides.

India can complete a 3-0 series sweep, while Afghanistan are looking to finish the series with a victory.

For India, the match also provides another opportunity to assess squad depth and player combinations before the next major assignment.

For Afghanistan, the game is an opportunity to correct the batting issues that have appeared during the first two matches.

IND vs AFG 3rd T20I Live: What to Watch

Several storylines will remain in focus during the final T20I.

The first is India's batting performance after being asked to bat first. The team has chased successfully twice in the series, but this match presents a different situation.

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will be expected to provide another fast start, while Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer can strengthen the middle order.

The second key area is Afghanistan's bowling attack. Rashid Khan and the pace bowlers will need early wickets to prevent India from building a large total.

The third is Afghanistan's batting response. Their previous two totals were below the level needed to seriously challenge India's batting line-up.

Finally, Yash Thakur's performance will attract attention after he replaced Arshdeep Singh.

IND vs AFG T20I 2026 Live Match

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third and final T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

India made one change to their XI, with Yash Thakur replacing Arshdeep Singh. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not been included in the playing XI.

India enter the final match with a 2-0 series lead after winning both previous games by seven wickets.

Afghanistan will now attempt to produce a stronger performance and avoid ending the series without a win. India, meanwhile, will look to maintain their momentum and complete a 3-0 series result.

The match began at 7:30 PM IST, with India batting first after Afghanistan chose to field.