India name squad for Afghanistan T20Is as Sanju Samson returns, Jasprit Bumrah's availability subject to fitness clearance

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a 15-member squad for India's upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. The series, which gets underway on September 13, will see the two Asian giants square off in a three-match assignment.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been handed a comeback to the Shreyas Iyer-led side, having missed out on the previous tour. Samson coming back means India have at least four opening options available, with Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the roster.

Meanwhile, four Indian players, part of the fifteen, have been included, though their participation in the series is subject to fitness clearance. Jasprit Bumrah headlines the players under scanner for the series, while all-rounders Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana are also yet to obtain a medical clearance from the Centre of Excellence staff.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya were hot favourites in the media report to receive a comeback call to the Indian setup, but neither of the two has been included.

The attacking top order is complemented by skipper Shreyas, while his deputy, Tilak Varma, will also be confident entering into the series after his high-intent century in the Duleep Trophy semi-final for South Zone in Bangalore. Seaming all-rounder Shivam Dube is expected to play a floater in the middle order, where his batting skills are likely to be utilised relatively more.

Rana, Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are the specialist pace inclusions in the squadron. Whether Nitish bowls will be a big question mark since his back injury has been triggered owing to his bowling dynamics.

The spin department will be taken care of by senior all-rounder Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, with Sundar expected to contribute with his off-spin. Ravi Bishnoi is another specialist spinner in the unit, but he will have to fight for a spot in the final XI alongside Varun.

Afghanistan will be the hosts for the series, while all the matches are slated to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson [WK], Ishan Kishan [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana*