Shreyas Iyer backs India's bench strength as injuries reshape his side for the Delhi T20I

Shreyas Iyer says India's replacements are ready to step in as the second T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi forces another change to a much-disrupted side

India and Afghanistan return to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday evening for the second match of a three-match T20I series, with India 1-0 ahead and their squad thinned again by injury.

Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a side strain picked up in the opener, removing India's first-choice wrist-spinner from a ground that has already shown itself to be generous to batters.

It is the latest in a run of absences that has followed India through the season, and their captain has been asked about it more than once this week. "Even if there is a backup, he is equally important for the team and we know that they can deliver as well," Shreyas Iyer said before the series began.

A spin slot to fill

Chakravarthy's absence is the most immediate selection question. He has been India's control bowler through the middle overs in this format, and the side has no like-for-like replacement in the XI that started the first match.

India do have cover in the squad. Washington Sundar was cleared to play by the Board's Centre of Excellence after a right hamstring injury sustained during the England ODI series in July, an injury that also cost him the Test matches against Sri Lanka.

Whoever takes the slot will bowl on a surface with short square boundaries, where a loose over is expensive rather than untidy.

Iyer on a season of injuries

Iyer has resisted treating the injury list as a grievance. "It isn't frustrating. We need to understand, first of all, the number of matches a player is playing continuously, rigorously. He is prone to getting injured in some way or the other because the intensity is pretty high," he said.

He was equally reluctant to frame absences as a failure of management. "Not every player thinks of getting injured deliberately. It's because they are putting in efforts for the team and if that effort turns out to be on the negative side, you cannot control it," Iyer said.

He did concede the practical cost. "I feel that it certainly impacts the combination, but we know how all the players are," he said.

Three openers, two places

The top of the order carries a selection problem of a happier kind. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are all in the frame for two opening slots, and Iyer has described the call as a tight one with each of the three in form.

The captain has said the harder part is managing the player who misses out. "Whoever sits outside, I have the responsibility as a captain ... to give them confidence," Iyer said.

Bumrah and the road to 2027

Jasprit Bumrah has been working his way back towards match fitness after a lay-off that began during the England ODI series in July, with his availability assessed through fitness testing and match simulation.

Iyer has framed that return around the 2027 Cricket World Cup, stressing that a returning fast bowler needs playing time and confidence rather than a single appearance. "He is in that mindset where he wants to come and perform for the team and see to it that we win championships," the captain said.

Afghanistan, conditions and a wet afternoon

Afghanistan arrive with a bowling attack built around Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and with Ibrahim Zadran leading the side.

The weather is the other variable. The India Meteorological Department has forecast developing scattered thunderstorms over Delhi, with the chance of rain rising to around 50 per cent by early afternoon and a daytime high near 33 degrees Celsius.

India come into the series as T20 World Cup holders, though the months since have been uneven: a series defeat to Ireland and a 4-1 loss to England were followed by a win over Zimbabwe.

Play is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the third and final T20I at the same ground on Thursday.

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