India secured the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan with a seven-wicket victory in the second match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead with one game still to play.
After Afghanistan posted 159 for 8 in 20 overs, India’s batters chased down the target in just 14.5 overs, finishing on 163 for 3 with 31 balls remaining. Sanju Samson produced the headline performance with a blistering 57 off 22 deliveries, while Abhishek Sharma contributed 39 from 19 balls.
Samson Makes Fastest T20I Fifty
Samson responded strongly after scoring only 10 runs in the opening match of the series.
The wicketkeeper-batter struck 57 from 22 balls, including seven fours and four sixes, reaching his half-century in rapid fashion. His innings came at a strike rate of more than 250 and provided India with the momentum needed to complete another comfortable chase.
The performance also took Samson beyond 2,000 international runs, with the milestone arriving during his explosive innings against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Reach 159 Despite Late Surge
Afghanistan were restricted to 159 for 8 after being asked to bat first.
Captain Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 37 from 33 balls, while Darwish Rasooli contributed 26 from 15. Mohammad Nabi made 20 from 14 before Rashid Khan provided a late boost with a quick 28 from 16 balls.
Rashid and Noor Ahmad added further runs late in the innings, but Afghanistan were unable to build enough momentum to put India under significant pressure.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Leads India’s Bowling Attack
India’s bowlers once again produced a disciplined performance, with Nitish Kumar Reddy taking 3 for 24.
Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah also contributed to Afghanistan’s total of eight wickets.
Nitish was particularly effective during the middle overs, helping India prevent Afghanistan from accelerating consistently.
Jasprit Bumrah also reached a T20I milestone during the match. His opening maiden over was his 13th in T20I cricket, moving him past Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava for the most maiden overs among players from Full Member nations.
India Complete Another Comfortable Chase
India’s chase began aggressively, with Abhishek Sharma continuing his strong run in the series.
The opener struck 39 from 19 balls, setting the tone before Samson took over. Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan then helped complete the chase after India lost three wickets.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan was their most effective bowler, claiming all three Indian wickets, including the dismissals of captain Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek and Samson.
Despite Rashid’s contribution, Afghanistan could not prevent India from reaching the target with more than five overs remaining.
India Take 2-0 Lead With One Match Remaining
The victory gives India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
India had also won the opening T20I by seven wickets after chasing Afghanistan’s 156 for 8 in only 13.4 overs. Abhishek Sharma was the star of that match, smashing 82 from 32 balls.
The third and final T20I is scheduled for September 17, giving Afghanistan one final opportunity to prevent a series sweep while India will look to complete a 3-0 result.
For India, the series has provided strong contributions from both the batting and bowling units, while Samson’s rapid return to form in the second match adds another talking point ahead of the final game.
Disclaimer: This report has been editorially prepared using publicly available information and official statements. Readers are advised to refer to official announcements for further details.
Author
About the Author
