India secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the opening T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Guided by a masterful 82 off 32 balls from opener Abhishek Sharma, the hosts successfully overhauled the 157-run target in just 13.4 overs. Abhishek’s innings, featuring seven boundaries and seven maximums, also saw him become the second-fastest player to accumulate 6,000 T20 runs, achieving the milestone in 3,420 balls.
Sent in to bat, Afghanistan faced an early crisis, sliding to 43 for 5 inside the powerplay. Jasprit Bumrah initiated the collapse by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claimed key middle-order wickets. Ibrahim Zadran, who made 11, was dismissed via a run-out. The tourists were in danger of folding quickly until Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi steadied the innings. Omarzai provided a valiant anchor, finishing unbeaten on 64 off 44 deliveries, while Nabi contributed 33 off 27. Late-inning fireworks, including two sixes from Omarzai off Shivam Dube and consecutive fours by Mujeeb ur Rahman, helped Afghanistan reach 156 for 8.
India’s pursuit began with an early setback as Azmatullah Omarzai removed Sanju Samson for a modest score. However, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan launched a brutal counter-attack, sharing a 121-run partnership that shifted the momentum decisively. The duo targeted Fazalhaq Farooqi in the fifth over, plundering 26 runs. By the conclusion of the powerplay, India had already raced to 82 for 1.
The momentum remained firmly with the home side as Abhishek brought up his fifty in just 22 deliveries. Even the experienced Rashid Khan could not stem the flow of runs, as India reached 130 for 1 by the halfway mark. Abhishek was eventually dismissed by Rashid, who took a fine catch at deep midwicket off a full toss. Ishan Kishan followed shortly after, scoring 42 from 33 balls before falling to Nabi. Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma were at the crease to seal the win.
For Afghanistan, Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler, claiming 3 for 19, effectively dismantling the top order and returning late to remove Rashid Khan. While Nabi managed 2 for 28, the target proved insufficient against India’s aggressive top-order approach. The visitors’ recovery allowed them to set a competitive total, but it could not withstand the clinical performance from India’s batting lineup. The report also notes that which included 7 fours and as many sixes, powered India to a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first T20I against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, a blazing 32-ball 82 from Abhishek Sharma. The report also notes that abhishek, meanwhile, dealt in regular sixes and fours as he became the second fastest to 6000 T20 runs (in 3420 balls). The report also notes that with both the left handers scoring a six and a four apiece off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the fifth over which yielded 26 runs, kishan began positively too. The report also notes that bowled by Mohammad Nabi, as India ended the Powerplay at 82 for 1, three more boundaries came in the sixth over. The report also notes that and Abhishek continued to tee away as he struck two sixes in an over off Noor Ahmad to power India to 130 for 1 at the halfway stage, a century partnership was raised soon afterwards.
