India completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Afghanistan after producing another dominant performance in the third match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 17. India posted 221/7 after Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 108 from 34 balls, including a century from only 30 deliveries. Sanju Samson also continued his strong finish to the series with 50 from 35 balls, while the opening pair helped India reach 100 without losing a wicket in the Powerplay. Afghanistan never recovered after a poor start to their chase and were bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs. India won by 127 runs, with Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy taking three wickets each.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Result and Full Scorecard
India won the third T20I by 127 runs, completing a 3-0 series victory. After winning the toss and batting first, India scored 221/7 in 20 overs, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s 108 and Sanju Samson’s 50. Afghanistan were then dismissed for 94 in 14.1 overs, leaving India with another large margin of victory.
Abhishek’s innings was the main feature of India’s batting effort, but the total was built on a remarkable opening partnership. Samson and Abhishek added 142 runs before Samson was dismissed in the 14th over. Shreyas Iyer then contributed 29 from 20 balls, while Shivam Dube scored 14 from 10.
Afghanistan’s chase never developed into a serious challenge. Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 25 from 16 balls, but wickets kept falling around him. Ravi Bishnoi finished with 3/26 and Nitish Kumar Reddy took 3/25, while Axar Patel claimed two wickets for only nine runs.
India Posted 221/7 After a Record-Breaking Start
India’s innings began at an extraordinary pace, with Abhishek and Samson combining for 100 runs without losing a wicket during the six-over Powerplay. Abhishek was particularly destructive, reaching his fifty from only 16 balls before continuing towards his century. Samson provided the other half of the opening stand with a more measured 50 from 35 balls.
Abhishek eventually finished with 108 from 34 balls, while Samson was dismissed for 50. The pair had already taken India to 142/1 before Afghanistan finally removed both openers. India then added 79 runs in the final 10 overs to finish at 221/7.
Afghanistan Collapsed for 94 in the Chase
Afghanistan’s chase started with some positive intent, but the innings quickly lost momentum once India began taking regular wickets. Ibrahim Zadran scored 25 from 16 balls, but Afghanistan could not build another substantial partnership after the early phase. The team eventually lost all 10 wickets for 94 in 14.1 overs.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi were the main destroyers, taking three wickets each. Axar Patel added two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Yash Thakur took one apiece. The bowling performance meant Afghanistan never came close to maintaining the required scoring rate after India’s huge first-innings total.
Abhishek Sharma’s 108 Was the Defining Moment
Abhishek Sharma produced the defining performance of the match with a spectacular 108 from 34 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes. He reached his century from only 30 balls, setting a new record for India’s fastest T20I hundred and becoming the fastest centurion in a men’s T20I between Full Member nations.
The innings also earned Abhishek both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. His performance was not simply a late acceleration because he attacked from the beginning and maintained that approach throughout his stay at the crease.
Abhishek Reached His Century in Just 30 Balls
Abhishek needed only 16 balls to reach his fifty and then moved from 50 to 100 in another 14 deliveries. He eventually scored 108 from 34 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes, before Rashid Khan dismissed him after India’s opening pair had already taken the score to 142.
The 30-ball century also became the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter, surpassing the previous Indian benchmark held by Rohit Sharma. It was a particularly significant record because Abhishek achieved it against Afghanistan in a match involving two established international sides.
His Power-Hitting Changed India’s Batting Ceiling
Abhishek’s strike rate of 317.65 illustrates how much his innings changed India’s scoring potential. His 11 sixes alone accounted for 66 runs, while his nine fours added another 36, meaning all 102 runs came through boundaries before accounting for his other scoring.
The innings also showed the value of India’s aggressive Powerplay approach. Instead of using the first six overs mainly to build a platform, Abhishek and Samson attacked immediately and reached 100/0, forcing Afghanistan to defend against a rapidly increasing run rate from the start.
Sanju Samson’s Back-to-Back Fifties Strengthen His Case
Sanju Samson followed his explosive 57 from 22 balls in the second T20I with another fifty in the final match. His 50 from 35 balls was considerably more measured than his previous innings, but it was equally useful because he stayed at the crease while Abhishek attacked at the other end.
The two innings also showed that Samson does not have to score at the same pace in every match to contribute effectively. Against Afghanistan in the second T20I, he produced a rapid 57, while in the third game he played a supporting role during a record opening stand.
Samson Followed His 57 With Another Fifty
Samson had scored 57 from 22 balls in the second T20I before returning to make 50 from 35 in the final match. The two innings gave him consecutive fifties and helped him finish the series with 117 runs.
The difference in tempo between the two innings is also useful when assessing his role. His second-match knock was built around explosive boundary hitting, while the third T20I required him to remain at the crease and support Abhishek’s attack. That flexibility gave India a strong opening partnership in both matches.
The Samson-Abhishek Opening Combination Delivered Again
The opening pair added 142 runs in the third T20I after combining for 88 in the second match. Their latest partnership was particularly destructive because India reached 100 without losing a wicket after six overs, giving the middle order very little pressure when it eventually came to the crease.
The two batters also complement each other naturally because Abhishek can attack aggressively from the start while Samson can adjust his tempo depending on the situation. Across the final two games of the series, that combination produced 230 runs before the first wicket fell.
India’s 100-Run Powerplay Showed Its T20 Batting Intent
India’s 100/0 after six overs became one of the most notable statistics of the match. It was India’s highest Powerplay score in men’s T20Is, surpassing the previous mark of 94 against England. Abhishek and Samson scored all 100 runs between them during the opening six overs.
The number is important because it demonstrates how aggressively India’s top order approached the match. Afghanistan were not given time to settle into their bowling plans, and once India had reached three figures without losing a wicket, the required task for the visitors became extremely difficult.
India Scored 100 Without Losing a Wicket
India reached 100/0 in only six overs, with Abhishek scoring at an extraordinary rate and Samson contributing a steady stream of boundaries and strike rotation. Their 142-run partnership eventually ended when Samson was dismissed for 50.
The Powerplay gave India the foundation for a score above 200 even though the scoring rate slowed after the openers departed. Afghanistan had already conceded substantial damage before they could create any pressure through wickets.
Afghanistan Could Not Recover After the Opening Assault
Rashid Khan eventually dismissed Abhishek, while Azmatullah Omarzai removed Samson, but those breakthroughs arrived only after India had reached 142/1. Afghanistan therefore had to deal with India’s middle order while already facing a huge deficit in the scoring equation.
The problem was not simply that Afghanistan conceded 100 runs in the Powerplay. They also struggled to find a way of stopping the scoring once the openers were established, which meant the wickets came too late to significantly alter the final total.
India’s Bowling Attack Turned a Big Total Into a Rout
India’s bowlers completed the job with an equally strong second innings. Afghanistan managed only 94 runs, and the innings lasted just 14.1 overs. Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy took three wickets apiece, while Axar Patel’s two wickets came at an economy rate of only three runs per over.
The bowling performance was particularly effective because India did not depend on one type of bowler. Spin created pressure through the middle overs, while the pace options were able to remove key batters and finish the innings once Afghanistan’s lower order was exposed.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi Took Three Each
Nitish Kumar Reddy finished with 3/25 from four overs, while Ravi Bishnoi took 3/26 from 3.1 overs. Their combined six wickets accounted for most of Afghanistan’s collapse and ensured that the chase never developed into a prolonged contest.
Bishnoi’s spell was especially useful once Afghanistan began losing wickets in clusters. Nitish also showed the value of having an all-round option who can contribute with the ball when the main attack needs support.
Bumrah and Axar Added Control
Jasprit Bumrah bowled two overs for 16 runs and took the wicket of Darwish Rasooli, while Axar Patel delivered three economical overs and finished with 2/9. Their contributions helped India maintain control even when Afghanistan’s batters attempted to attack.
Axar’s figures were particularly effective in a match where Afghanistan needed a very high scoring rate. His three overs cost only nine runs, while his two wickets added further pressure to a chase that was already slipping away.
What India Learned About Its T20I Batting Combination
The Afghanistan series gave India several useful answers at the top of the order, particularly through Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Abhishek scored 108 in the final match and finished as the Player of the Series, while Samson ended with consecutive fifties in the final two games.
At the same time, the series did not completely settle India’s middle-order structure. Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Shivam Dube all featured, but the opportunities were shaped by the dominance of the opening pair and the different batting situations in each match.
The Top Order Has Produced Strong Competition
Abhishek’s performances across the series and Samson’s finish gave India meaningful evidence about the potential of their opening combination. The pair produced an 88-run partnership in the second T20I and then a 142-run stand in the third, with both partnerships allowing India to control the match from the beginning.
Abhishek’s record century adds even more weight to the discussion because it showed how much damage he can cause when given the freedom to attack in the Powerplay. Samson, meanwhile, showed that he can adjust his tempo rather than relying on one fixed method of scoring.
The Middle Order Still Needs Defined Roles
The series did not remove every question surrounding India’s batting order because the success of the openers meant the middle order often had limited time at the crease. Shreyas Iyer made 29 in the final T20I, while Shivam Dube scored 14 and Ishan Kishan made 10.
That means India still have to determine how their middle-order players fit around the opening combination. Finishing ability, left-right combinations and the need for different types of batting options will remain relevant when India move into their next T20 assignments.
What Afghanistan Need to Improve After the 3-0 Defeat
Afghanistan leaves the series without a win, but the final result also exposes specific areas that need attention rather than simply showing a difference in overall quality. Their biggest problems in Delhi were the inability to contain India’s Powerplay attack and the failure to build sustained partnerships during the chase.
The visitors had moments of positive batting, but they could not turn those periods into long partnerships. Against India’s attack, losing wickets at regular intervals made it almost impossible to maintain the required scoring rate.
Afghanistan’s Batting Could Not Sustain Partnerships
Ibrahim Zadran’s 25 from 16 balls was Afghanistan’s highest score in the chase, but he was unable to build a partnership large enough to change the match. The visitors lost wickets regularly after the early overs and were eventually dismissed for 94.
Afghanistan did manage to reach 31/1 during the early part of the innings, but the platform disappeared quickly once India began taking wickets. The difference between a short partnership and a sustained one became clear as the required rate continued to rise.
The Bowling Unit Faced Sustained Pressure
Afghanistan’s bowlers eventually took seven wickets, but the timing of those breakthroughs was the bigger issue. India had already reached 142/1 before Abhishek and Samson were removed, leaving Afghanistan with only six overs to try to prevent India from reaching a huge total.
The 100-run Powerplay made the task particularly difficult. Even though Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai eventually produced important wickets, India’s early scoring meant Afghanistan had already lost control of the innings.
The Series Gave India Useful Momentum Before the Asian Games
India’s 3-0 series win came immediately before the team’s move into the next stage of its 2026 schedule. India are due to face Japan in a historic T20I on September 22 before beginning their men’s Asian Games campaign in Japan.
The Afghanistan series therefore provided valuable match practice for players competing for roles in the T20 setup. The form of Abhishek and Samson gives India a productive opening combination, while the bowling performance in Delhi showed that the side can use pace and spin together to defend a large total.
The Japan match will also give India an opportunity to adapt to conditions in Japan before the Asian Games. The Asian Games men’s cricket competition begins later in September, with India entering directly at the quarter-final stage.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Series: Key Numbers to Remember
| Statistic | Number |
| Series result | India won 3-0 |
| Third T20I result | India won by 127 runs |
| India’s score | 221/7 |
| Afghanistan’s score | 94 all out |
| Abhishek Sharma | 108 off 34 |
| Abhishek’s century | 30 balls |
| Sanju Samson | 50 off 35 |
| Opening partnership | 142 runs |
| India’s Powerplay | 100/0 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 3/25 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 3/26 |
| Axar Patel | 2/9 |
The biggest numbers from the final match all point towards the same pattern: India dominated the game through an extraordinary opening assault and then backed it up with disciplined bowling. The six wickets shared by Nitish and Bishnoi highlighted the strength of India’s bowling response.
Conclusion
The India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I gave India a 127-run victory and completed a 3-0 series sweep, but the result also provided several useful signals for the team’s T20 setup. Abhishek Sharma’s 108 from 34 balls was the standout performance, with his 30-ball century setting a new Indian T20I record. Sanju Samson added 50 after his 57 in the previous match, while their 142-run partnership followed an 88-run stand in the second T20I.
India’s 100-run Powerplay showed the attacking ceiling of the top order, while the bowling unit responded by dismissing Afghanistan for 94. With the Asian Games and Japan T20I next, India now have a strong set of performances to assess as they continue shaping their T20I combinations.
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