India’s search for consistency in T20I cricket will continue with a three-match series against Afghanistan, but the team’s batting combination could once again come under scrutiny, particularly with vice-captain Tilak Varma’s role yet to appear fully settled.
The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe. The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against Japan before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
Where will he bat?” de Villiers said. Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that’s where the balance is quite tricky. Tilak’s recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point. The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders. He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year.