Archive · 14 Sep 2026
India Return to Winning Ways with Afghanistan Rout
India played Afghanistan in the first match of a three-game T20 series.
Afghanistan made 156 runs after Azmatullah Omarzai scored 64 without being dismissed.
India’s bowlers, especially Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy, took important wickets.
India then chased the target very quickly.
Abhishek Sharma hit 82 runs from only 32 balls.
Ishan Kishan helped him by scoring 42 runs.
India won by seven wickets with many balls still remaining.
The victory was important because India had recently struggled to win matches.
India still needs to improve its backup bowling when Hardik Pandya is unavailable.
India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first of three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Afghanistan scored 156/8, led by Azmatullah Omarzai’s unbeaten 64 from 44 balls.
Arshdeep Singh took 3/19, while Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy combined for 2/43.
Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 from 32 balls as India reached 157/3 in 13.4 overs.
India’s fifth-bowler options conceded 59 runs in four overs in Hardik Pandya’s absence.
- Who
- India and Afghanistan, with key contributions from Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Ishan Kishan.
- What
- India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the opening T20I.
- When
- Sunday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Arun Jaitley Stadium.
- Why
- India were seeking a strong performance after losing six of their previous 10 T20I matches since the T20 World Cup.
- Result
- India won by seven wickets.
- Afghanistan total
- 156/8 in 20 overs.
- India total
- 157/3 in 13.4 overs.
- Top Afghanistan scorer
- Azmatullah Omarzai, 64 not out from 44 balls.
- Top India scorer
- Abhishek Sharma, 82 from 32 balls.
- Best bowling
- Arshdeep Singh took 3/19.
- Series position
- India lead the three-match T20I series 1-0.