India brought in Yash Thakur for Arshdeep Singh in the final T20I against Afghanistan, aiming for a 3-0 series sweep.
Final T20I sees single change for India
In the third T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium, India replaced left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh with right-arm pacer Yash Thakur, while Afghanistan made two changes. Skipper Shreyas Iyer said the team would have preferred to bat first but saw bowling first as a ‘fun challenge’. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran reiterated his side’s intent to bowl first, citing a bowler-friendly pitch and a desire to avoid a clean sweep. The Times of India +4
Yash Thakur: Career and background highlights
•Yash Thakur is a right-arm fast-medium bowler from Vidarbha, born on 28 December 1998.
•He made his T20I debut in Zimbabwe in July, taking four wickets in two matches.
•Thakur has played 50 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches, taking 81 wickets at an economy rate of 7.04.
•In IPL, he took 4/37 against Punjab Kings in 2023 and 5/30 against Gujarat Titans in 2024.
•He was named as Harshit Rana’s replacement for the Afghanistan T20Is and the 2026 Asian Games.
Strategic timing ahead of Asian Games
With the series already secured, Thakur’s inclusion gives India a chance to test another seamer under match conditions before their Asian Games campaign begins on 28 September. The decision also helps manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload in a congested schedule that includes a one-off T20I against Japan on 22 September. India’s approach ensures bench strength is match-ready for the multi-sport event
Thakur’s steady rise from domestic cricket
The 27-year-old Vidarbha pacer has built his career through consistent domestic performances, including 81 wickets in 50 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches at an economy of 7.04. He made his T20I debut in Zimbabwe in July, taking four wickets in two games, and has IPL highlights like a 5/30 against Gujarat Titans in 2024. His journey reflects nearly a decade of domestic grind, IPL exposure, and India A tours before breaking into the national side.
Injury setback opened the door
Thakur’s spot in the squad came after Harshit Rana, initially picked for the Afghanistan T20Is and Asian Games, suffered a rectus femoris strain during a match simulation on 7 September. Rana had been rehabilitating from a hamstring injury and was close to returning before the setback ruled him out. The BCCI confirmed Thakur as his replacement for both assignments, giving him a timely opportunity to establish himself.
