Is India vs Afghanistan Free Live Telecast of 1st T20I 2026 Available on DD Sports?
Catch the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I live today, September 13, 2026, from the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The match, part of the Friendship Cup, will be freely telecast on DD Sports and available on the Sony Sports Network and FanCode.
The cricketing world turns its attention to the Arun Jaitley Stadium today, Sunday, September 13, 2026, as India squares off against Afghanistan in the opening match of their three-T20I Friendship Cup series. Cricket enthusiasts in India can catch all the live action, with a free live telecast confirmed on DD Bharati rather than DD Sports, with comprehensive coverage on the Sony Sports Network and FanCode. Delhi Weather Forecast and Rain Chances for India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I 2026.
This marks the commencement of an exciting bilateral series, administratively hosted by Afghanistan in India, with all three encounters scheduled at the same Delhi venue. India, led by Shreyas Iyer, will be looking to start strong against an Afghanistan side under the captaincy of Ibrahim Zadran.
Match Details
The 1st T20I is poised to begin at 7:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), with the coin toss slated for 6:30 PM IST. This series holds significant importance for both teams, particularly for India, who are fine-tuning their squad ahead of the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
Fixture Information:
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Venue | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I: AFG vs IND | Sep 13, 2026 (Sun) | 7:00 PM | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi | Friendship Cup |
| Toss | Sep 13, 2026 (Sun) | 6:30 PM | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi | Friendship Cup |
Where to Watch Live
For Indian viewers, multiple platforms will ensure no moment is missed:
- Free-to-Air (FTA): A major boost for fans, DD Bharati will provide a free live telecast of the game on DD Free Dish and other DTT platforms instead of DD Sports.
- Live Streaming: Digital enthusiasts can stream the match via the FanCode app and website, available for a match pass or a series pass.
- Television: The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, including Sony Sports Ten 5, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), and Sony Sports Ten 4 (regional languages).
Team Form and Head-to-Head
India enters this series as the reigning ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions, having secured the title in March 2026. Their form includes a commanding 3-0 sweep against Zimbabwe.
Historically, India has maintained a dominant record against Afghanistan in T20 Internationals. Out of nine T20I encounters between the two nations, India has emerged victorious in eight, with one match ending in a no-result. Afghanistan is yet to register a T20I win against the Men in Blue.
Head-to-Head (T20Is):
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Afghanistan | 9 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
Squads at a Glance
India Squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur.
Afghanistan Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq.
With both teams boasting a blend of experience and youthful talent, today's clash promises to be an enthralling start to the Friendship Cup. All eyes will be on Delhi as India aims to extend its dominant T20I record against Afghanistan and fine-tune its strategies for future assignments.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 13, 2026 07:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).