India secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the opening match of their three-game T20I series at the
The foundation for the win was laid by a disciplined bowling display that restricted Afghanistan to 156/8.
Afghanistan recovery follows early collapse
Afghanistan’s innings began in precarious fashion as the Indian pace attack dismantled their top order, leaving the visitors reeling at 43/5. The situation appeared dire until a vital partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi shifted the momentum. The duo combined for 83 runs, allowing Afghanistan to recover and post a competitive total.
Omarzai anchored the resistance with an unbeaten 64 from 44 deliveries, while Nabi provided a steady 33. Despite their efforts, the early damage proved difficult to overcome, leaving the visitors with a total that ultimately proved insufficient against India’s aggressive batting lineup.
Sharma leads clinical run chase
India’s pursuit of 157 began with an early loss, as Sanju Samson departed for 10. However, any hopes of an Afghanistan comeback were quickly extinguished by Abhishek Sharma. The left-hander dominated the bowling, racing to a half-century in just 22 balls and maintaining an aggressive tempo throughout his 32-ball stay at the crease.
Sharma’s explosive 82, which included seven fours and seven sixes, effectively turned the contest into a one-sided affair. Ishan Kishan provided stability at the other end, contributing a composed 42 from 33 balls to ensure the required run rate remained well within control. Following the dismissals of the openers, Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma guided India to the target of 157/3 in just 13.4 overs. The series continues with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 in Delhi.
