India sealed the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan with a clinical seven-wicket victory in the second game, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. Sanju Samson spearheaded the chase with a blistering 57 off just 22 deliveries, an innings highlighted by seven fours and four sixes. The hosts reached their target of 160 with 31 balls to spare, completing the win in just 14.5 overs.
The foundation for the result was laid by India’s disciplined bowling attack. Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed 3 for 24 and Arshdeep Singh added 2 for 35 to limit Afghanistan to 159 for 8. Jasprit Bumrah opened with a maiden, and Arshdeep struck early to remove Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck. Despite a 37-run contribution from Ibrahim Zadran and a late surge from Rashid Khan, who smashed 28 off 16 balls, the visitors could not post a challenging total. Rashid’s efforts and a brisk 48-run partnership between Rashid and Mohammad Nabi provided some late momentum, but Nitish eventually curbed the resistance by dismissing Rashid in the final over.
India’s pursuit began with an aggressive display from openers Abhishek Sharma and Samson. Abhishek raced to 39 off 19 balls, punishing Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Nabi early on. The Powerplay proved decisive, as India cruised to 82 for 0 after six overs, with Samson accelerating against Azmatullah Omarzai and Nabi to reach his fifty in just 20 balls. Although Rashid Khan briefly interrupted India’s momentum by dismissing both Abhishek and Samson in the seventh over, the required run rate remained well under control.
Ishan Kishan, remaining unbeaten on 38 off 23 balls, ensured there were no further stutters in the chase. He provided stability alongside Shreyas Iyer, who contributed a quick 12 before being dismissed by Rashid. Kishan’s composure, punctuated by timely boundaries against Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb, steered India home comfortably. The victory marks a dominant performance for India, who outclassed the visitors with both bat and ball to confirm the series win.
In the final figures, Afghanistan finished at 159/8 in their allotted 20 overs. India responded with 163/3 in 14.5 overs. While Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan with 3 for 36, the target proved insufficient against India’s explosive top-order firepower. The series concludes with the final T20I, which will now serve as a dead rubber. The report also notes that while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan provided support with useful 30s as India needed only 14.5 overs to reach the target, winning by 7 wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, samson then powered the chase with a blitzy knock. The report also notes that while he also put away Mohammad Nabi for a couple of sixes as he raced away to 25 off 14, abhishek was his explosive self as he began India’s chase with two fours off Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the opening over. The report also notes that samson, who was on 8 off 10, surpassed his opening partner with three fours and a six off Azmatullah Omarzai in the fifth over, which yielded 20. The report also notes that bowled by Nabi, was even more profitable as Abhishek’s six was followed by 6, 4, 4, 6 for Samson, powering India to 82 for 0 after six overs, the final over of the Powerplay. The report also notes that in the same over, Samson reached a 20-ball fifty with a boundary, struck a six after that, and was then dismissed by Rashid, leaving India at 99 for 2 after 7 overs. The report also notes that moving to 117 for 2 at the halfway stage, but the carnage in the Powerplay ensured India were in pole position.
