Punjab Kings Lead India T20 Squad List; RCB, Gujarat Titans Unrepresented
Fifteen players from eight IPL franchises have been selected for India's upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
The BCCI announced a 15-member squad on September 1, 2026, for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah make their returns, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi retains his spot after the Zimbabwe tour. Hardik Pandya misses out because of another injury.
A breakdown by IPL franchise shows Punjab Kings contributing the most players, with three. Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Lucknow Super Giants each have two representatives. Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings have one player apiece, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans have no players in the squad.
Punjab's three selections include captain Shreyas Iyer, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, whose availability is subject to fitness clearance. The squad reflects a mix of experienced campaigners and young talent across multiple franchises.