Abhishek Sharmaproduced a match-winning performance in India's chase against Afghanistan in the first T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September
13, 2026. India won by seven wickets, completing the chase in 13.4 overs after Afghanistan posted 157. Sharma's explosive batting proved decisive in the successful pursuit.
Aakash Chopra praised Sharma's display, highlighting the batter's ability to dominate opposition bowling. Chopra noted that Sharma had been going through a slight lean patch before scoring runs in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, which appeared to have restored his form for this international assignment.
"Abhishek Sharma, who was going through a slight lean patch, came after scoring a few runs in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, and this is where he scored 82 runs off 32 balls with seven sixes. 82 is a massive, massive score," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Sharma's 82 came off just 32 deliveries, featuring seven boundaries and seven sixes. He brought up his fifty in 22 balls, demonstrating the aggressive intent that defined his innings. His explosive approach set the tone for India's successful chase and earned him the Player of the Match award.
Sharma's partnership with Kishan powers India's chase
Sharma shared a crucial 121-run partnership for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who contributed 42 off 33 balls. This partnership accelerated India's chase and put the team in a commanding position to complete the target comfortably. The combination of Sharma's aggression and Kishan's steady contribution proved too much for Afghanistan's bowling attack.
After the lopsided clash, Chopra pointed out that when Abhishek starts firing on all cylinders, it makes every ground look small.
"The match was over in 13.4 overs. It seemed like he would score a hundred, but he got out eventually. However, when he starts batting, all grounds look small, and Delhi's is small in any case. He keeps reminding us that Abhishek can do this if he fires, and do it so quickly," Chopra said.
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Sharma's performance came after a difficult period in T20I cricket. He had entered the match with four consecutive single-digit scores and was averaging 6.66 across his last six T20Is. Earlier in 2026, he had endured a subpar T20I season, averaging under 26 with six ducks in 24 matches. His explosive 82 against Afghanistan demonstrated his ability to recover form and deliver when it matters.
