The chase proved far more straightforward, with India reaching the target in just 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Abhishek provided the bulk of the entertainment, smashing seven sixes and seven fours in a 32-ball innings. After six successive T20I innings without crossing 20, the opener looked to have put his recent struggles firmly behind him. By Tarkesh Jha September 13, 2026, 11:55:50 PM IST (Published)
Arshdeep Singh’s relentless accuracy with the ball and Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 84 with the bat helped India cruise to a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the opening T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. Arshdeep returned figures of 3-19, sending down 16 dot balls in his four overs as India restricted Afghanistan to 156-8 after Shreyas Iyer opted to field. The chase proved far more straightforward, with India reaching the target in just 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Abhishek provided the bulk of the entertainment, smashing seven sixes and seven fours in a 32-ball innings. After six successive T20I innings without crossing 20, the opener looked to have put his recent struggles firmly behind him. Abhishek’s aggressive approach was evident from the outset as he lofted Fazalhaq Farooqi over cover before clearing long-off against Azmatullah Omarzai.
He then took Farooqi over mid-wicket for his third six, quickly putting Afghanistan’s bowlers under pressure on a placid Kotla surface. His half-century came from just 22 balls, marking his 12th T20I fifty, and he continued attacking when Afghanistan turned to spin. Noor Ahmad struggled to contain him after losing his length, while Ishan Kishan provided valuable support at the other end.
The pair added 121 for the second wicket before Abhishek was dismissed with India needing only 17 more runs. Kishan finished with 42 from 33 balls as he too grew into the chase, including a six off Farooqi, after Sanju Samson had fallen early for 10. The opening partnership had given India complete control and left little room for Afghanistan to mount a comeback.
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Earlier, though, Afghanistan had been restricted to 43-5 inside seven overs as India’s attack repeatedly found ways to break through. Jasprit Bumrah was sharp throughout, finishing with 1-26 and 16 dot balls, while Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel kept the pressure on with economical four-over spells.
Varun returned 1-16 and Axar 1-27 as Afghanistan struggled to find momentum through the first 10 overs. Bumrah removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck with a delivery that kicked up and took an edge to Abhishek Sharma at first slip.
Arshdeep then used changes of pace and variations to prevent Afghanistan’s batters from getting their arms around him, eventually finishing with three wickets. A mix-up between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal resulted in the Afghanistan captain’s dismissal, before Atal himself fell trying to dig out a wide yorker from Arshdeep, with Bumrah taking the catch at fly slip. Gulbadin Naib then holed out off Axar, while Varun breached Darwish Rasooli’s defence to leave Afghanistan in serious trouble. Azmatullah Omarzai, however, gave Afghanistan’s innings a much-needed lift. He targeted Nitish Reddy, who proved the most expensive of India’s bowlers, and combined with Mohammed Nabi to add 83 for the sixth wicket.
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Nabi scored 33 from 27 balls before Arshdeep returned for his second spell and bowled him after conceding a six. Rashid Khan struggled for rhythm, managing only one run from 10 balls before he was dismissed in the deep, leaving Omarzai to take responsibility for the final assault. The Afghanistan all-rounder remained unbeaten on 64 from 44 balls and hit Shivam Dube for two sixes in the final over, which yielded 21 runs and lifted the total beyond 150. That late surge ultimately proved insufficient, as India’s bowlers had done enough to keep the required rate under control, and Abhishek ensured there was no drama in the chase. With his 84 providing the decisive burst after a difficult run of form and Arshdeep setting up the victory with the ball, India moved 1-0 ahead in the series with a performance that was comprehensive from the outset.
Home Sports News Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma power India to seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in first T20I
