The Indian duo of Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube took part in a lighthearted kite-flying duel at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 10, 2026, just days before India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan gets underway.
Abhishek came out on top and wasted little time in letting Dube know about it, teasing his teammate with a comment in Hindi that suggested Bombay was well behind when it came to kite-flying skills, drawing on his own childhood experience to make the point.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India shared a video of the contest on X, giving fans a candid look at the relaxed atmosphere inside the Indian camp ahead of the series opener. Dube, a left-handed power-hitter like Abhishek, was on the receiving end of the friendly banter throughout the exchange.
“Bombay abhi bahut peeche hain patangbaazi mein. Yeh abhi inko bahut saal lagenge, humari bachpan ki mehnat hain. (Bombay is still way behind when it comes to kite flying. It’s going to take them years to catch up; this is a skill honed since our childhood),” Sharma was heard saying to Dube.
Watch the clip here –
Both players are expected to contribute significantly to India’s batting plans across the three matches. Abhishek brings an attacking intent to the top of the order that puts opposition bowlers under pressure from the very first over, while Dube offers considerable hitting ability in the middle and lower-middle order.
Abhishek is widely recognised for his aggressive approach at the top of the order, and his willingness to attack from ball one makes him a consistent threat during the powerplay, putting fielding restrictions to full use and setting the tone for the innings that follows.
Dube, meanwhile, is relied upon to provide hitting power in the middle overs and beyond, with his ability to clear the boundary at will making him a valuable option when India need quick runs in the back half of an innings.
When and where is the India vs Afghanistan T20I series scheduled?
India and Afghanistan will contest all three T20Is at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with the series running across six days. The first match is scheduled for September 13, 2026, followed by the second on September 15 and the third on September 17. All three matches are set to begin at 7:00 PM IST.
Staging the entire series at one venue gives both squads a settled environment and removes the need to travel between fixtures. Arun Jaitley Stadium is one of India’s established T20 venues and will host what is expected to be a competitive three-game contest between the two sides.
The kite-flying contest between the pair, while entirely in good spirit, offered a glimpse of the easy camaraderie within the squad as preparations build towards the opening T20I on September 13, 2026, at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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