Sanju Samson 57: India Beat Afghanistan by 7 Wickets to Seal T20I Series

Afghanistan struggled to build sustained momentum after losing wickets at regular intervals. The top and middle order found it difficult to maintain the scoring rate against India’s bowling attack, leaving the visitors in a rebuilding phase through the middle overs.

Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 37, while Darwish Rasooli added 26. Afghanistan reached 105/6 after 15 overs, putting pressure on the lower order to provide the late acceleration required for a competitive total.

Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan responded with an important 48-run partnership. Nabi contributed 20, while Rashid scored 28 off 16 balls to give Afghanistan a stronger finish.

Despite that late recovery, Afghanistan finished on 159/8, leaving India a target of 160. India’s bowlers had kept the scoring under control for most of the innings and continued to pick up wickets at crucial stages.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was India’s standout bowler in the second T20I, finishing with figures of 3/24. His performance helped India prevent Afghanistan from building a substantial total after the visitors had lost wickets at regular intervals.

Reddy’s three wickets represented a career-best T20I bowling performance. He was particularly important during Afghanistan’s middle and lower-order phase, when India were looking to stop the visitors from producing a late surge.

Arshdeep Singh took 2/35, while Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each. Bumrah also began Afghanistan’s innings with a maiden over, immediately putting pressure on the batting side.

Afghanistan eventually reached 159/8, but India’s combination of early pressure and regular wickets meant they never established complete control of the innings.

Sanju Samson was the star of India’s chase, attacking Afghanistan’s bowlers from the middle of the powerplay and turning a target of 160 into a straightforward pursuit.

Samson finished with 57 runs from 22 deliveries, hitting seven fours and four sixes. He reached his half-century from just 20 balls, recording his fastest fifty in T20I cricket.

After initially taking a measured approach, Samson accelerated quickly and targeted both pace and spin. His aggressive strokeplay allowed India to maintain a very high scoring rate during the opening stages of the chase.

The innings was particularly significant because Samson had scored only 6 in the first T20I. His response in the second match came at a crucial point for India’s opening combination and helped set up the series-clinching victory.

India made their chase look straightforward from the opening over as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma attacked Afghanistan’s bowling from the outset. The pair added 88 runs from just 37 balls before Afghanistan finally found a breakthrough.

Abhishek continued the aggressive batting approach he showed in the first T20I, scoring 39 runs from 19 balls. Samson was even more destructive, reaching his fifty in only 20 deliveries and finishing with 57 from 22.

India raced to 82/0 at the end of the six-over powerplay. The rapid start meant the required run rate was comfortably under control before Afghanistan could build any sustained pressure.

Rashid Khan eventually dismissed both openers in the seventh over, but by then the opening partnership had already put India firmly ahead in the chase.

After Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma departed in quick succession, Ishan Kishan took responsibility for finishing the chase. The left-hander remained unbeaten and kept India’s required run rate comfortably under control.

Kishan scored 38 runs from 23 balls, striking three fours and two sixes. He received useful support from Tilak Varma, who stayed unbeaten on 15 as India moved beyond Afghanistan’s total with plenty of deliveries remaining.

India eventually reached 163/3 in 14.5 overs, completing a seven-wicket victory. Kishan’s composed finish meant Afghanistan could not create pressure after their bowlers finally removed both opening batters.

India Strike Early With the Ball

Jasprit Bumrah set the tone immediately by opening India’s bowling with a maiden over. Afghanistan struggled to build a strong platform in the early stages, and India’s bowlers kept the scoring under control through the middle overs.

Nitish Kumar Reddy Delivers a Career-Best Spell

Nitish Kumar Reddy produced the standout bowling figures for India, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs. His spell helped India keep Afghanistan from converting starts into a much larger total.

Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi Add Late Runs

Afghanistan were 105/6 after 15 overs, but Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi changed the momentum with a 48-run partnership. Rashid scored 28 from 16 balls while Nabi contributed 20, helping Afghanistan reach 159/8 from their 20 overs.

Samson and Abhishek Explode in the Powerplay

India’s chase immediately moved into top gear. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 88 runs from 37 balls, with India reaching 82/0 by the end of the powerplay. Samson’s 57 from 22 balls included seven fours and four sixes.

Rashid Khan Removes Both Openers

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan responded in the seventh over by dismissing both Samson and Abhishek. Samson’s dismissal ended a remarkable 20-ball fifty, while Abhishek departed for 39 from 19 balls.

Ishan Kishan Completes the Chase

Ishan Kishan provided the finishing contribution with an unbeaten 38 from 23 balls. He hit three fours and two sixes, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 15 as India reached 163/3 in 14.5 overs to win by seven wickets.

Samson’s 57 off 22 balls took him past 1,000 T20I runs as an opener. He became the fifth Indian batter to reach the milestone in the format, joining Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and Abhishek Sharma.

The milestone came during an innings that immediately put India in control of the chase. Samson’s seven fours and four sixes helped India race through the powerplay before Rashid Khan dismissed him in the seventh over.

His 20-ball fifty was another notable feature of the innings. Samson’s aggressive approach gave India a strong start while chasing Afghanistan’s 159/8 and helped set up the seven-wicket victory.

India now lead the series 2-0 after winning both of the opening matches. The result in Delhi gives India an unassailable advantage in the three-match series against Afghanistan.

The second T20I also followed India’s victory in the series opener, meaning Afghanistan cannot level the series in the final match. The third T20I is scheduled for September 17 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

For Afghanistan, the final game provides an opportunity to finish the series with a win after India successfully chased 159 with 31 balls remaining in the second T20I.

For India, the match was highlighted by Sanju Samson’s 57 off 22 balls, Abhishek Sharma’s 39 from 19, Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 38 and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s career-best 3/24. These performances were central to India’s seven-wicket victory.

• ICC: India clinch Afghanistan T20I series with clinical triumph
• Hindustan Times: Sanju Samson 57 off 22 balls and 1,000 T20I runs as an opener
• ICC: Abhishek Sharma match-winning performance and latest comments

The primary match report from the ICC confirms India’s seven-wicket victory, Afghanistan’s 159/8, India’s 163/3 and the 2-0 series lead.