🏏Afghanistan vs India in India 2026: 2nd T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on 15/09/2026 at 7:30PM IST🏏
There were no comforts for Afghanistan in their adopted home of Delhi on Sunday. Seven months after their previous T20I, and in their first match since a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2026 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan were outplayed by India in almost every department. Now, with a quick turnaround before Tuesday’s second T20I, they have little time to regroup if they are to keep the series alive.
Afghanistan went in with their first-choice XI but were behind the game almost from the start. Asked to bat, they lost their top-five in seven overs and were staring at a significantly smaller total before Azmatullah Omarzai changed the tempo. His counter-attacking fifty, and an 83-run stand with Mohammad Nabi, gave the innings some much-needed momentum. The pair exploded against India’s allrounders, but 156 was never likely to be enough against this Indian batting line-up.
It certainly wasn't. India chased it down at nearly 11.5 runs an over, with Abhishek Sharma typically producing the sort of innings that can make a target disappear in a hurry. His 82 off 32 was both a statement and a reward for the faith the management had continued to show in him through a hot-and-cold run lately. That said, the musical chairs at the other end also continued, with India leaving out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Player of the Series from their previous assignment in Zimbabwe, and bringing back Sanju Samson.
The bigger difference, though, was with the ball. India had their frontline attack back together after long injury layoffs, and Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy immediately brought control with their miserly spells of 1/26 and 1/16 respectively. Arshdeep Singh, returning for the series, shut down Afghanistan’s late push with an impressive 3/19, removing the experienced Nabi and Rashid Khan in the process.
India will not have Chakaravarthy on Tuesday, however. His return lasted precisely those four overs before a fresh side strain forced him back to the BCCI Centre of Excellence, with the team taking a precautionary approach given that the Asian Games are looming. His absence leaves a hole in an attack already lacking a solid fifth and sixth bowling option without Hardik Pandya. Afghanistan will need to be far more clinical with the bat to make that a factor, though. The hosts can ill-afford losing cheap wickets against an Indian attack, even one now missing Chakaravarthy.
A stronger start with the bat, greater discipline against India’s top order and better execution under pressure could turn the screws on India. Even without Chakaravarthy, India will start as favourites, but Afghanistan only need one good performance to keep the interest in the series alive.
Anupamaa
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