AFG vs IND 3rd T20I: Sooryavanshi waits as India's bench gets the spotlight

India have nothing left to prove in the series after two commanding wins, but the final T20I in Delhi offers a different kind of intrigue. The big question now is whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and India's waiting players finally get their moment.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could play his first senior India appearance on home soil. (Photo: PTI)India have already wrapped up the T20I series against Afghanistan, but the final match in Delhi still has plenty of intrigue. With back-to-back seven-wicket wins, the spotlight now shifts to India's bench strength and whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will finally get his much-awaited chance on home soil.The result may no longer be up for debate, but India's team selection certainly is, with several players waiting for an opportunity. Speaking after the second T20I, captain Shreyas Iyer hinted that the management could rotate the squad to give those players some much-needed time in the middle.“Definitely, we want all of them to get used to the wicket and get some practice, so it will be a good opportunity to give a chance to the guys sitting out,” Iyer said.That comment has naturally put Sooryavanshi right at the centre of the conversation. The 15-year-old was India's Player of the Series in Zimbabwe, where he played all three T20Is, but Sanju Samson's return has kept him on the sidelines during the Afghanistan series. Samson, meanwhile, has made a rather strong case for retaining his place after smashing 57 off just 22 balls in the second T20I. Abhishek Sharma has also been part of India's preferred opening combination, meaning Sooryavanshi's inclusion would require the management to shuffle things around rather than simply making a like-for-like change.There are other pieces to India's selection puzzle too. Washington Sundar is yet to feature in the series, Yash Thakur could get another opportunity, and India have already lost Varun Chakravarthy to a side strain, giving the management another reason to look beyond the combination that has comfortably won the series. With nothing left to settle in the series standings, Delhi could therefore become a testing ground for India's next set of questions. India could even go in with four specialist bowlers and ask their batters to compensate for the reduced batting depth, making the final T20I more useful than just another chance to add a win.IS IT FINALLY SOORYAVANSHI TIME?This is the question that has followed Sooryavanshi since Samson returned to the squad, and the third T20I offers perhaps the most natural opportunity to finally provide an answer. The teenager has already experienced international cricket during the Zimbabwe tour, but playing in front of a home crowd would add another interesting chapter to his rapid rise.The complication is that India's current opening pair has given the management very little reason to tamper with it. Samson's explosive second T20I innings and Abhishek's ability to attack from the outset mean India would have to get creative if they want Sooryavanshi and both established openers in the XI.Iyer's comments do suggest that the door is open for changes, although they stop short of confirming the youngster's selection. If India do hand him a chance, Sooryavanshi could also become the youngest player from a Full-Member nation to play international cricket in India.CAN AFGHANISTAN EARN BACK PRIDE?Afghanistan's task is considerably simpler. They know the series is gone, but they will want to avoid leaving Delhi with another one-sided defeat after India dominated both games by seven wickets.Ibrahim Zadran has endured a difficult beginning to his captaincy against India, while Afghanistan will want more from Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top. Azmatullah Omarzai has looked among their more assured batters and could be moved higher in the order, rather than being left to repair an innings after the damage has already been done.Their bowling combination could also come under the microscope. Afghanistan have several quality spinners but could benefit from an additional pace option, particularly if Naveen-ul-Haq is fit enough to return and Fazalhaq Farooqi continues to be used differently with the new ball.Rashid Khan also has a personal landmark within touching distance, with the Afghanistan captain needing four wickets to complete 200 T20I wickets.TIME FOR INDIA'S BENCH STRENGTH?For India, the final T20I is less about finding answers to a problem and more about asking different questions. Washington, Thakur and Sooryavanshi are among the players who could use the opportunity to get valuable game time while the management looks at combinations beyond its first-choice setup.One particularly interesting experiment would be to play four specialist bowlers and move away from the all-rounder-heavy balance India have used regularly. It would show how the batting unit responds when there is less insurance lower down the order, especially against an Afghanistan attack containing Rashid and other quality spinners.India also have momentum firmly on their side, having won their last five completed T20Is. Afghanistan's recent record is more uneven, with two wins and three defeats in their last five completed matches.AFG vs IND, 3RD T20I: PITCH CONDITIONSThe Arun Jaitley Stadium should once again provide an inviting surface for the batters, with the compact boundaries adding another incentive to attack. The pitch is expected to reward clean hitting, while spinners can still make an impact if they vary their pace and use the conditions effectively.There is some weather activity developing over north-western India, although the risk of rain in Delhi remains moderate. Barring an unexpected change, conditions should allow both teams a full opportunity to finish the series.AFG vs IND, 3RD T20I: TEAM NEWSIndia will be without Varun Chakravarthy after his side strain ruled him out of the third T20I as well as the Asian Games. Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar remain options in the spin department, while the management has several players it can bring into the XI after sealing the series.Iyer's comments point towards rotation, putting Sooryavanshi and Yash Thakur among the names to watch. Washington could also get his first appearance of the series as India assess their options ahead of a busy period.Afghanistan could make changes of their own, particularly in the pace department. Naveen-ul-Haq's fitness will be an important factor, while the visitors may look to balance their attack with an additional fast bowler instead of relying so heavily on their spin resources.AFG vs IND, 3RD T20I: PREDICTED XIIndia Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson/Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan/Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi/Yash Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep SinghAfghanistan Predicted XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman/Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi/Abdollah AhmadzaiThe third T20I will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, September 17. India have already secured the series 2-0, but with Sooryavanshi's potential return, India's bench waiting for opportunities and Rashid closing in on a major milestone, the final game has enough intrigue of its own.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 17, 2026 11:12 IST