Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Abhishek Sharma Says India’s Recent Struggles Do Not Define Team
India played Afghanistan in the first match of a three-game T20 cricket series.
India won by seven wickets.
Abhishek Sharma scored 82 runs and was named Player of the Match.
He said India had recently played some disappointing series, but those results do not define the team.
Sharma said India still wants to play boldly and dominate opponents.
India’s bowlers restricted Afghanistan to 156 runs for eight wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah took an early wicket, and other bowlers and fielders continued the pressure.
Afghanistan’s captain said his team needed to score more runs to have a better chance of winning.
Abhishek Sharma scored 82 as India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the opening T20I.
India chased Afghanistan’s 156 for eight to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sharma said India’s recent underwhelming white-ball series do not define its batting or overall approach.
Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over, helping India build early momentum.
Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said his team’s failure to post a larger total cost them the match.
- Who
- India, led by Shreyas Iyer, played Afghanistan, led by Ibrahim Zadran; Abhishek Sharma was Player of the Match.
- What
- India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the opening T20 International.
- When
- Sunday, September 13.
- Where
- Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi.
- Why
- India successfully chased Afghanistan’s total of 156 for eight, while Afghanistan said it failed to score enough runs.
India’s Perspective
Afghanistan’s Perspective
Reason for the result
India’s Perspective
Abhishek Sharma said India’s recent poor series do not define the team, while Shreyas Iyer described the victory as a collective effort built on strong bowling and batting.
Afghanistan’s Perspective
Ibrahim Zadran said Afghanistan’s inability to post a bigger total ultimately cost the team the match.
Key turning points
India’s Perspective
India credited Jasprit Bumrah’s early wicket, contributions from Arshdeep Singh and the spinners, and Sharma’s 82-run innings.
Afghanistan’s Perspective
Zadran identified Ishan Kishan’s run-out of him as a turning point and praised India’s bowling and fielding.
- Result
- India won by seven wickets.
- Series position
- India leads the three-match series 1-0.
- India score
- India chased Afghanistan’s 156 for eight.
- Top performer
- Abhishek Sharma scored 82 runs.
- Afghanistan total
- Afghanistan made 156 for eight.
- Early breakthrough
- Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over.
- Recent India results
- India lost the T20I series in Ireland 0-2 and then lost T20I and ODI series in England.