India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20 International at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India chased down the target of 160 in 14.5 overs after a disciplined bowling performance was followed by Sanju Samson’s half-century.
Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl, with the decision paying off from the opening over. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a maiden in the first over before Arshdeep Singh dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over. Gurbaz failed to open his account for the second consecutive match.
Captain Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal then attempted to steady the innings, putting together a 51-run partnership from 40 balls for the second wicket. Afghanistan reached 41 for one by the end of the powerplay.
Nitish Kumar Reddy broke the partnership by dismissing Zadran in the ninth over. Ravi Bishnoi then removed Atal in the following over, while Nitish dismissed Gulbadin Naib to further increase Afghanistan’s difficulties.
Azmatullah Omarzai was given a reprieve but could not capitalise on it. He was dismissed for 11 runs shortly after being dropped off Axar Patel’s bowling. Arshdeep Singh then sent Darwish Rasooli back to the pavilion. Rasooli scored 26 runs from 15 balls.
After six wickets had fallen, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan attempted to revive the innings with attacking batting. The pair added 48 runs from 28 balls for the seventh wicket. Rashid Khan scored 16 runs in one over from Arshdeep, hitting two fours and a six.
Jasprit Bumrah ended the partnership by dismissing Nabi in the 19th over. In the final over, Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed Rashid Khan to claim his third wicket. Noor Ahmad hit a six off the final ball as Afghanistan finished on 159 runs in 20 overs.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was India’s most successful bowler, taking three important wickets. Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi also claimed wickets at key moments to prevent Afghanistan from posting a bigger total.
Ravi Bishnoi was included in the playing XI in place of the injured Varun Chakravarthy. Bishnoi took an important wicket in the match.
India began the chase aggressively, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma adding 88 runs for the first wicket. Abhishek was dismissed for 39 by Rashid Khan.
Samson continued his attacking batting and hit two fours and two sixes in one over from Mohammad Nabi. He completed his half-century from just 20 balls.
It was Samson’s first half-century since the final of the T20 World Cup 2026. He was dismissed for 50 by Rashid Khan, who removed both Abhishek Sharma and Samson in the same over. Rashid also dismissed captain Shreyas Iyer.
Despite Rashid Khan taking three wickets, no other Afghanistan bowler was able to trouble the Indian batters. India reached the target of 160 in 14.5 overs for the loss of three wickets.
Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38, while Tilak Varma was unbeaten on 15. The victory gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 International series.
