AFG vs IND 2026: India Crush Afghanistan by 7 Wickets, Abhishek Sharma Stars in Delhi

India began their T20I series against Afghanistan with a dominant seven-wicket win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The hosts chased down 157 with 38 balls to spare and took a 1-0 lead.

Afghanistan were asked to bat first after India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss. They finished on 156/8 in 20 overs, with Azmatullah Omarzai leading the way with a fine 64 off 44 balls.

Omarzai found good support from Mohammad Nabi as the pair added 83 runs for the sixth wicket. Their partnership helped Afghanistan recover from a difficult position and gave them a competitive total.

India’s bowlers kept control for most of the innings, with Arshdeep Singh leading the attack. The left-arm pacer finished with excellent figures of 3/19 from his four overs.

The chase, however, quickly turned into a one-sided contest. Abhishek Sharma produced a stunning 82 off just 32 balls, taking the attack apart with a fearless display of hitting.

Abhishek and Ishan Kishan added 121 runs from only 53 balls, putting India firmly in control. Their partnership took the pressure away and left Afghanistan with little chance of making a comeback.

India eventually reached 160/3 in just 13.4 overs. Abhishek was named Player of the Match for his explosive innings as India completed the chase in style.

The match also saw Jasprit Bumrah reach another major milestone. The India pacer completed 350 T20 wickets, adding another landmark to his already remarkable career.

This was the first T20I between India and Afghanistan to be played in India. The hosts now have a 1-0 lead and will look to seal the series in the second match.

The second T20I will be played on Tuesday, September 15, with Afghanistan needing a strong response to stay alive in the series.