India continued their clinical performance against Afghanistan in the second T20 International, cruising to a seven-wicket victory at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. This win guarantees India the three-match series, as they now hold an unassailable 2-0 lead. Nitish Kumar Reddy was named Player of the Match for his stellar all-round contribution.
Match Summary
- Afghanistan: 159/8 (20 overs)
- India: 163/3 (14.5 overs)
- Result: India won by 7 wickets
- Player of the Match: Nitish Kumar Reddy
Afghanistan struggled early after electing to bat, losing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with 37 off 33 balls, while captain Rashid Khan provided a late spark, hammering 28 runs off just 16 deliveries to help the tourists reach 159/8. Nitish Kumar Reddy led the Indian bowling attack with figures of 3/24. Arshdeep Singh chipped in with two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi claimed one wicket each.
Chasing a target of 160, Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma dismantled the Afghan attack from the outset. Samson produced a destructive 57 off 22 balls, featuring seven boundaries and four sixes, while Sharma contributed 39 runs off 19 deliveries. Despite Rashid Khan taking 3/36, the momentum remained with India. Ishan Kishan guided the hosts home with an unbeaten 38 off 23 balls. India successfully reached the target in 14.5 overs, winning the match with 31 balls to spare. The teams will conclude the series with the third and final match tomorrow.
