Key players and pitch report for Delhi T20 showdown

The Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium pitch proved batsman‑friendly in the first encounter, offering short boundaries that Abhishek Sharma and Ajmatullah Umarji exploited. A subtle amount of turn was also evident, rewarding spin bowler Arshdeep Singh, who claimed three wickets for just 19 runs. For India, the likely XI includes Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and a quartet of seamers led by Nitish Kumar Reddy, whose expensive overs in the first T20 could see him rotated out. Afghanistan may tweak their top order, but their middle and lower order will need to build partnerships. The weather service forecasts clear skies and a modest breeze, conditions that should keep the pitch consistent throughout the day.