The three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan is scheduled to begin on September 13, 2026, with all three matches set to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The second and third T20Is are scheduled for September 15 and 17.

With India's squad expected to draw plenty of attention, two names are generating particular interest—veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and young fast bowler Kartik Tyagi.

While Bhuvneshwar brings years of international experience and exceptional control, Tyagi has been attracting attention with his raw pace.

Can Bhuvneshwar Kumar Make a Comeback?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's last T20I appearance for India came in November 2022. Since then, he has remained a prominent name in domestic and franchise cricket.

His recent form has once again put him in the conversation for a possible national comeback.

In the UP T20 League, Bhuvneshwar has reportedly been particularly effective at restricting scoring. Although his wicket tally has not been spectacular, his economy rate and ability to bowl dot balls underline the control that has made him one of India's most dependable white-ball bowlers.

His experience could also be valuable against Afghanistan, particularly in the powerplay and at the death.

Kartik Tyagi Is Making Noise With His Pace

Kartik Tyagi is attracting attention for a completely different reason—raw speed.

The right-arm fast bowler has reportedly taken eight wickets in five matches in the UP T20 League while maintaining an economy rate of 6.77.

What has really caught the eye, however, is his pace. Tyagi has reportedly touched 153.6 kmph during the tournament and has also produced deliveries around the 149 kmph mark.

His ability to generate genuine pace could give India's bowling attack another dimension.

Experience vs Raw Pace

The potential selection of these two bowlers represents an interesting choice for the selectors.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar offers:

• International experience

• Excellent control

• Powerplay expertise

• Proven ability to bowl economical spells

• Experience in pressure situations

Kartik Tyagi, meanwhile, offers:

• Genuine express pace

• A wicket-taking option

• Ability to surprise batters with speed

• A younger option for India's future T20 plans

If the selectors are looking for immediate experience, Bhuvneshwar could be an attractive option. If they want to invest in raw pace and give a young bowler an opportunity, Tyagi could enter the discussion.

Afghanistan Has Already Announced Its Squad

Afghanistan has already announced its 15-member squad for the series. Ibrahim Zadran will captain the side, while the squad includes major T20 names such as Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai.

Fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has also returned after recovering from a shoulder injury, strengthening Afghanistan's pace attack.

This makes India's bowling combination particularly important, especially with Afghanistan possessing several dangerous T20 batters and world-class spin options.

Who Could Get the Opportunity?

At this stage, neither Bhuvneshwar Kumar nor Kartik Tyagi can be considered certain selections without the official Indian squad announcement.

However, both have compelling cases.

Bhuvneshwar's experience and control could make him a useful short-term option, while Tyagi's pace could give the selectors an opportunity to test a potentially high-impact fast bowler at international level.

The Afghanistan series could therefore become an interesting selection test for India—not just in terms of winning matches, but also in deciding which fast-bowling options could play a role in the team's next T20 cycle.