Cricket has seen a lot of technological upgrades over the years. But nothing quite like this. A bilateral T20I series is about to be broadcast using the exact same production technology, personnel, and standards that powered the biggest sporting event on the planet just weeks ago. The sport of cricket is about to look different in a way that viewers have never experienced before. AFG vs IND T20Is to Feature FIFA World Cup Production.
What ITW Universe Has Announced
ITW Universe holds the broadcast rights for the three-match Afghanistan vs India T20I series at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The company has announced an unprecedented production upgrade for the series.
This is the first time a bilateral cricket series will be produced to full FIFA World Cup host-broadcast standards. The same individuals who directed the FIFA World Cup Final and multiple UEFA Champions League Finals will lead the gallery for all three matches. That is a statement of intent that changes how this series will look and feel for every viewer at home.
Who Is Directing the Series
The series director is Jamie Oakford. He has directed every FIFA World Cup since 2002. He directed the 2014 Final in Brazil. He is one of the most experienced major sports broadcast directors alive.
ITW Universe founder Bhairav Shanth explained the philosophy behind hiring Oakford directly. He said they endorse his philosophy, which is to give the viewer the best seat in the house. Bringing that mentality into cricket for a bilateral T20I series is completely new territory.
The Technologies Being Used
Five major technology elements are being introduced for this series. Each one represents a significant upgrade from anything previously used in a bilateral cricket broadcast.
AI-Stabilised POV Cameras
Standard cricket coverage uses fixed position cameras around the ground. AI-stabilised point-of-view cameras move with the action, hold steady, and capture angles that were previously impossible to achieve without significant camera shake. The result is an immersive perspective that puts the viewer closer to the action.
Volumetric Free Viewpoint Technology
This is the most significant innovation of all. A network of cameras will create a real-time 3D digital twin of the entire pitch and every player simultaneously. Broadcasters can then place a virtual camera anywhere, even inside the action itself, to create free-viewpoint replays. Viewers will be able to see deliveries, LBW decisions, and fielding moments from angles that have never existed in cricket coverage before.
Advanced Spidercam with Quidich Innovation Labs
The series will use Quidich Innovation Labs’ Spatio system. This delivers broadcast-grade augmented reality overlaid on a stabilised drone feed combined with real-time optical player tracking. It enables unique field-placement graphics, strategy visualisation, and storytelling angles that showcase the best of what modern Indian cricket production can offer.
Ultra Slow Motion at 600 Frames Per Second
A dedicated ultra-slow-motion camera system will capture deliveries, bat contact, edges, stumpings, and fielding at 600 frames per second and above. That is significantly faster than standard broadcast slow motion. The result is dramatic, almost forensic-quality replays. Those replays will become signature moments of the broadcast rather than routine analysis tools.
Cine-Style Storytelling
The overall production approach uses cinematic storytelling techniques borrowed directly from FIFA World Cup coverage. This means lighting, framing, and sequencing that treats each cricket match more like a film production than a traditional sports broadcast.
Why This Matters for Cricket Broadcasting
The rights holder made a significant statement in their official announcement. They said they want to move away from the same old production technology that has been used in cricket for the last 10 to 12 years. They said the series will give new experiences to viewers and brands.
That willingness to challenge the established broadcast model of cricket is genuinely significant. Cricket coverage has largely looked the same since HD broadcasting became standard. The same camera positions.
The same replays. The same graphics. The FIFA World Cup standard production for this series represents the biggest single upgrade to a cricket broadcast outside of major ICC tournaments.
The Series: Afghanistan vs India T20Is
The three-match T20I series begins on September 13. The second match is on September 15. The third is on September 17. All three start at 7:30 PM local time at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Afghanistan is registered as the home team for the series despite playing in India. Afghanistan have used India and the UAE as neutral home venues in recent years due to the security situation in their country. This series marks the first time Afghanistan have hosted the reigning world champions in a bilateral T20I series.
For India, the three matches serve as direct preparation for the Asian Games in Japan, where the men’s cricket competition in T20 format begins on September 24. Shreyas Iyer captains India and uses this series to assess combinations ahead of Aichi-Nagoya.
The full story of how India and Afghanistan’s bilateral cricket relationship has developed over the past two years is explored in our earlier piece on the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI preview from the June series, which shows just how quickly this rivalry has grown into one of Asia’s most watched bilateral matchups.
Where to Watch
The series will be telecast live on Sony Sports in India. Streaming will be available on FanCode. Those are the two confirmed broadcast and digital partners for all three matches.
For fans outside India, broadcasting arrangements through the Sony network and FanCode international access are the primary viewing options. Afghanistan’s growing fan base across South Asia will have full access to what promises to be the most visually stunning bilateral T20I broadcast in cricket history.
What This Means for Young India Players
India’s squad for this series is expected to feature several young players building their case ahead of the Asian Games. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is among the names generating the most excitement in the T20I setup after his Zimbabwe series performances.
Being seen on a FIFA World Cup standard broadcast, in front of a global audience watching cricket in ways they have never seen before, adds a different kind of pressure and opportunity simultaneously. The full story of how Sooryavanshi has been building toward this kind of stage is explored in our piece on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stats, records and rise.
Conclusion
The Afghanistan vs India T20I series from September 13 to 17 in Delhi is no longer just a cricket series. It is the moment cricket broadcasting makes its most ambitious technological leap in over a decade. FIFA World Cup directors. Volumetric free-viewpoint cameras. 600 frames-per-second replays. AI-stabilised POV angles. Cine-style storytelling. The viewers at home will never have seen cricket look like this before. September 13 at Arun Jaitley Stadium is not just a match. It is a broadcast landmark.
