India kicked off their three match T20I series against Afghanistan in style on Sunday. Playing their first ever home T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi, India cruised to a seven wicket victory at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
The chase never really felt in doubt, Abhishek Sharma turned what could have been a routine chase into a personal highlight reel, smashing his way to a match winning half century inside just a handful of overs.
How the Match Unfolded
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping a par total might trouble a full strength Indian side. That plan fell apart almost immediately. Jasprit Bumrah, making a successful return from injury, removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with just the second ball of the match, setting the tone for what followed.
India’s spinners tightened the screws further through the middle overs, dragging Afghanistan down to a shaky 43 for 5. Azmatullah Omarzai fought back gamely alongside Mohammad Nabi, dragging the total toward respectability with a stirring counterattack. Arshdeep Singh’s sharp death bowling kept things in check, though, and Afghanistan eventually finished on 156 for 8, a total that always looked short on a good batting surface in Delhi.
Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan raced to 82 for 1 inside the powerplay alone, setting up what became a comfortable chase. Abhishek was particularly ruthless, striking 82 runs off just 32 balls, with seven fours and seven sixes at a strike rate above 256. His 121 run stand with Kishan for the second wicket effectively ended the contest well before it reached its final overs. India completed the chase in just 13.4 overs, finishing on 160 for 3 with more than six overs still unused.
Key Players Who Stood Out
Abhishek Sharma walked away with the Player of the Match award, and few would argue against it. His innings came after a rough patch of low scores across his previous six outings, making the timing of this comeback even sweeter. Speaking after the match, he credited the team’s sharp start with the ball for setting the tone. “Getting a catch in the first over, and also in the slips, makes you a bit more confident,” he said, reflecting on how that early momentum shaped India’s approach with the bat.
Jasprit Bumrah’s return from injury was arguably just as significant a storyline as Abhishek’s innings. His early strike against Gurbaz triggered Afghanistan’s collapse, and Varun Chakravarthy also made a successful comeback from injury in the same match, giving India’s bowling attack a settled look ahead of the remaining series.
For Afghanistan, Omarzai’s half century stood out as the lone bright spot with the bat, while Mohammad Nabi’s economical bowling figures of 2 for 28 made him the visitors’ most successful bowler on the day. It simply was not enough to trouble an Indian side clicking on all fronts.
Team News and What Comes Next
This match also marked a leadership shift for India, with Shreyas Iyer now captaining the T20I side, taking over from Suryakumar Yadav. The transition appeared seamless on the field, with India playing with the same aggressive intent that has defined their recent T20 cricket under previous leadership.
This victory follows India’s recent series win over Zimbabwe, reinforcing what looks like a consistent, high risk approach to T20 batting under the new captaincy setup. With the series opener wrapped up, India now leads the three-match series 1-0, putting early pressure on Afghanistan heading into the remaining fixtures.
Where This Leaves Both Teams
Results like this tend to matter beyond just the scoreline, especially with ICC T20I rankings constantly shifting based on recent form. India’s dominant, high tempo batting performances this year, including Abhishek’s strike rate of over 185 across his T20I innings in 2026, continue to strengthen their position among the format’s top ranked sides.
For Afghanistan, this defeat highlights a familiar challenge, competing against a deep full strength Indian squad on unfamiliar territory. Their middle order fightback through Omarzai and Nabi showed genuine fighting spirit, even if it was not enough to change the final result.
