India wrapped up the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan with a match to spare after recording a convincing seven-wicket victory in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The hosts overhauled Afghanistan’s 159/8 in 14.5 overs, finishing on 163/3. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma supplied the initial fireworks before Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma completed the chase.
Samson dominated the opening phase with a sensational 57 from just 22 deliveries. His innings featured seven fours and four sixes as he transformed a cautious start into an aggressive assault on Afghanistan’s spinners.
Abhishek provided similar firepower from the other end, contributing 39 off 19 balls with two fours and four sixes.
Rashid Khan was introduced into the attack in the seventh over and immediately made an impact.
The Afghanistan spinner ended Abhishek’s innings after the Indian opener miscued a big stroke towards mid-wicket, where Sediqullah Atal held the catch.
Four balls later, Rashid dismissed Samson after the batter lifted a delivery towards long-off, allowing Mohammad Nabi to complete the catch.
Kishan continued the aggressive approach by depositing Noor Ahmad over the boundary for six.
Iyer then struck Rashid for another maximum, but the Afghanistan spinner responded by claiming his third wicket after the Indian batter edged a quicker delivery to Ibrahim Zadran at slip.
Tilak joined Kishan with India requiring only 35 more runs. The pair kept the scoreboard moving and avoided handing Afghanistan any further opportunities.
Kishan then dismantled Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s over by hitting four, six and four before sealing the contest with another boundary through the off-side.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 159/8 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 37, Rashid Khan 28; Nitish Kumar Reddy 3/24, Arshdeep Singh 2/35) lost to India 163/3 in 14.5 overs (Sanju Samson 57, Abhishek Sharma 39, Ishan Kishan 38*; Rashid Khan 3/36) by seven wickets.