The Indian cricket team sealed the three-match AFG vs IND T20I 2026 series 2-0 after chasing down 160 in just 14.5 overs to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.
India’s charge was led by Sanju Samson, who smashed 57 from 22 balls, including seven fours and four sixes, at a strike rate of 259.09. Abhishek Sharma added 39 from 19 balls as India raced to 82 without loss in the powerplay before Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan briefly threatened a comeback.
Afghanistan had earlier posted 159/8 after being asked to bat first, with Ibrahim Zadran making 37 from 33 balls and Rashid contributing a late 28 from 16. Nitish Kumar Reddy was India’s most successful bowler, taking a career-best 3/24.
The result gave India a second straight victory in the series in as many matches.
Afghanistan made a poor start after Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck by Arshdeep Singh in the second over, following a maiden from Jasprit Bumrah in the opening over.
Skipper Ibrahim Zadran provided stability alongside Sediqullah Atal, but India’s bowlers repeatedly struck whenever Afghanistan appeared to be building momentum.
Ibrahim was dismissed for 37 in the ninth over by Nitish, triggering a sequence of wickets that left Afghanistan struggling at 67/4.
Sediqullah Atal made 12 before Ravi Bishnoi dismissed him. Darwish Rasooli then provided a burst of acceleration, hitting 26 from 15 balls with two sixes, before Arshdeep ended his innings.
Rashid Khan’s aggressive 28 from 16 helped Afghanistan push towards a competitive total as he struck three fours and a six before Nitish dismissed him in the final over, leaving Afghanistan on 159/8 after 20 overs.
AFG vs IND T20 2026: Sanju Samson fires India to series-clinching win over Afghanistan
India’s reply was emphatic from the outset. Samson and Abhishek attacked the Afghanistan bowling, bringing up 50 in only 4.4 overs before reaching 82 without loss at the end of the powerplay.
Samson reached his fifty from just 20 balls before Rashid Khan dismissed him four balls after removing Abhishek for 39.
Rashid completed a three-wicket haul when he dismissed Indian T20 captain Shreyas Iyer for 11, leaving India 123/3 in the 11th over.
However, the damage had already been done as Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38 from 23 balls, while Tilak Varma was on 15 not out from 14 as India completed the chase with 31 balls to spare.
India will face Afghanistan in the third and final match of the Friendship Cup 2026 series at the same venue on Thursday.
AFG vs IND, T20 2026 match 2, brief scores: Afghanistan 159/8 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 37; Nitish Kumar Reddy 3/24) lost to India 163/3 in 14.5 overs (Sanju Samson 57; Rashid Khan 3/36) by seven wickets.