Ishan Kishan’s participation in the Afghanistan vs. India T20I series is uncertain due to a back injury scare he sustained during a net session in Delhi on Friday, September 11, 2026. When Navdeep Saini bowled a short delivery in the nets, Kishan tried to duck it, which led to the incident. After the incident, the team physiotherapists treated him right away, and he was able to leave the pitch on his own.
Outgoing India physio Kamlesh Jain hurried to tend to Kishan, who was clearly in discomfort. After sitting on his haunches for several minutes, he left the nets in silence. The batter did not come back to bat after being observed clutching the back of his waist. Only when Kishan gets enough sleep will the severity of the niggle be determined during the course of the following 24 hours.
After leading East Zone to the 2026 Duleep Trophy, Kishan had come to the Indian camp in excellent shape. He demonstrated his form ahead of the series in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final against South Zone, scoring 270 runs in the first innings and 80 in the second. Kishan had appeared menacing during the practice, fresh off his exploits in the Duleep Trophy final, where he hit 270 and 80 against South Zone. Before the back problem ended his practice, he dominated the spinners’ nets by frequently lofting the ball into the stands with his attacking strokeplay.
This year, Kishan has been one of the most effective batters in T20 cricket. With 812 runs from 23 Twenty20 Internationals in 2026, he is the format’s second-highest run scorer for the year. His track record of steady performance over 23 games is indicative of the form he brought to the Afghanistan series camp.
Given the number of runs he has amassed, his absence—even for a single game—would leave India’s batting resources noticeably lacking. If Kishan is unable to play in the first game, Sanju Samson, the other wicketkeeper in the team, could take over.
Shreyas Iyer is captain of India’s team for the Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan, while Tilak Varma is selected vice-captain. On September 13, 2026, the first Twenty20 International will take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Team management won’t know Kishan’s availability until the medical examination is finished in the hours before the game because his fitness is still being evaluated.
