India began their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan with a comfortable seven-wicket victory in Delhi on Sunday, riding on contrasting performances from Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek Sharma. While Arshdeep’s disciplined spell dismantled Afghanistan’s top order and kept their scoring under control, Abhishek produced a stunning counter-attacking half-century to make India’s chase a one-sided affair.
Asked to bowl first, India kept Afghanistan under pressure from the outset. Arshdeep was particularly difficult to score against, mixing his pace and lengths intelligently to prevent the batters from freeing their arms. He finished with 3/19 from four overs, sending down 16 dot balls in his 24 deliveries.
Jasprit Bumrah was equally effective with
the new ball. He removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck after the batter edged a delivery that climbed sharply, with Abhishek taking a low catch at slip. Bumrah ended with 1/26 and also bowled 16 dot balls.
Afghanistan were reduced to 43/5 inside seven overs as India’s attack repeatedly found ways through their batting. Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal managed a few attacking strokes before a mix-up resulted in Zadran’s dismissal. Arshdeep then accounted for Atal, who attempted to work a wide yorker but found Bumrah at fly slip.
Gulbadin Naib fell for two after attempting an ill-judged shot against Axar Patel, while Varun Chakravarthy continued to attack the stumps and bowled Darwish Rasooli for two. Varun finished with 1/16 from his four overs, while Axar returned 1/27.
Afghanistan were in serious danger of being bowled out cheaply before Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi revived the innings. The pair added 83 for the sixth wicket, with Omarzai taking particular aim at Nitish Reddy’s bowling. Nabi made 33 from 27 balls before Arshdeep returned for his second spell and bowled him after conceding a six.
Rashid Khan struggled throughout his 10-ball stay, scoring just one before falling in the closing stages. Omarzai, however, ensured Afghanistan crossed 150 by launching two sixes off Shivam Dube in the final over. His unbeaten 64 off 44 balls lifted Afghanistan to 156/8.
India’s response was vastly more straightforward.
Sanju Samson fell for 10 early, but that was effectively the only moment of uncertainty in the chase. Abhishek then joined Ishan Kishan and tore into the Afghanistan attack. The pair added 121 runs for the second wicket, turning the chase into a procession.
Abhishek brought up his 12th T20I fifty from just 22 deliveries, ending a run of six matches in which he had failed to score more than 20. His innings was packed with clean hitting, including seven sixes and seven fours.
He began by clearing the cover region against Fazalhaq Farooqi before sending Azmatullah Omarzai over long-off. Another six against Farooqi disappeared over mid-wicket, while Noor Ahmad was also punished after repeatedly missing his length.
Kishan provided excellent support, scoring 42 from 33 balls and growing increasingly confident as the partnership developed. He also cleared the ropes against Farooqi with a powerful hook.
By the time Abhishek was dismissed for 84 from 32 balls, India required only 17 more runs. The remaining target was completed without drama, with India reaching 157/3 in 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
(With PTI Inputs)
