India finished their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in style, producing a massive 127-run victory at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, September 17. The win also gave India a major T20I record. They have now become the first full-member cricket team to win 10 T20Is by a margin of 100 runs or more.
Only associate nation Canada has also recorded 10 such victories. Among the full-member teams, Zimbabwe are next with eight, while Pakistan and England have six each.
After choosing to bat first, India got off to a flying start. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson attacked the Afghanistan bowlers from the beginning and put together an opening partnership of 142 runs. Abhishek reached his half-century in just 16 balls, while Samson also completed his fifty. Abhishek Sharma continued his attack and smashed a brilliant 108 off 34 balls, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes. Sanju Samson scored 50 off 35 balls.
Rashid Khan was involved in two important dismissals, running out Tilak Varma and also catching Sanju Samson. India lost a few wickets towards the end, but Shreyas Iyer’s 29 runs helped them reach a huge 221/7.
Afghanistan started their chase positively. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran hit boundaries in the opening over. But the momentum quickly changed when Axar Patel dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with his very first ball. That wicket triggered a major collapse. Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli and Ibrahim Zadran soon followed, leaving Afghanistan four wickets down inside the powerplay.
Ibrahim Zadran was Afghanistan’s top scorer with 25 runs, while Azmatullah Omarzai made 17. However, Afghanistan could not recover. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi then cleaned up the lower order. Nitish Kumar Reddy finished with 3/25, while Ravi Bishnoi took 3/26.
Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for just 94 in 14.1 overs, giving India a massive 127-run victory and their 10th T20I win by 100+ runs.
Well played India, especially Abhishek Sharma!
