Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch set for run-fest in first India-Afghanistan T20

The first of three T20 International Friendship Cup matches between India and Afghanistan will be played on Sunday, September 13, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The high-voltage match begins at 7:00 pm, with Shreyas Iyer's India looking to maintain their dominance, while Ibrahim Zadran's Afghanistan will look to spring a big upset.

India lead the head-to-head in T20 Internationals between the two sides, having won eight of the nine matches played so far, with one ending without a result. But the pitch report and weather conditions in Delhi could play a key role in deciding this match.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is known for a batting-friendly pitch and short boundaries. Batters are expected to do well in Sunday's first T20. Good bounce and pace on the pitch should mean the ball comes on well to the bat, giving batters the chance to play freely during the powerplay. The short boundaries will make it difficult for bowlers to control the run rate. Given how flat the pitch is, 200 is being considered an average score for the side batting first.

Even though the pitch is considered largely batter-friendly, bowlers will still get some opportunities. The new ball could offer pace bowlers some swing and assistance in the early overs, though this help will be limited. As the match progresses and the ball gets older, spinners could become effective again in the middle overs. Both teams have several world-class spinners, so containing runs and taking wickets in the middle overs is likely to prove decisive.

Dew in the evening is common in Delhi, so there is a strong chance of dew during the second innings of this match as well. Once dew sets in, the outfield gets wet, making it difficult for both spinners and pace bowlers to grip the ball. Batting in the second innings under floodlights becomes considerably easier as a result, which is why the captain winning the toss could choose to bowl first, to make chasing easier.