New Delhi, Sept 2026 : Afghanistan overcame an early collapse and a testing start to post 159/8 against India in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, with India’s bowlers regaining control during the death overs.
Jasprit Bumrah set the tone for India with a maiden over to open the innings against Ibrahim Zadran. Arshdeep Singh then delivered an early breakthrough, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a second successive duck in the series.
Gurbaz attempted to attack a short-of-length delivery but mistimed his shot, top-edging it towards mid-on, where Ravi Bishnoi completed a comfortable catch. Afghanistan were reduced to 2/1.
Zadran initially struggled to find his timing but quickly settled in, hitting four boundaries off Arshdeep in the third over. He and Sediqullah Atal then steadied the innings, putting together Afghanistan’s strongest phase of the powerplay as India maintained disciplined lines.
The pair added 50 runs for the second wicket before India struck again in the eighth over. Nitish Kumar Reddy, brought into the attack, made an immediate impact by dismissing Zadran with his first delivery. The opener holed out to Bishnoi at deep mid-wicket after scoring 37 off 33 balls, including six fours.
Afghanistan soon slipped into further trouble. Atal was dismissed for 12 in the following over after slicing Ravi Bishnoi’s googly to Tilak Varma at long-off. Nitish then struck again in the 11th over, removing Gulbadin Naib for 10.
At 67/3, Afghanistan needed a partnership to rebuild their innings. Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai responded with an attacking stand. Rasooli smashed a six off Shivam Dube and another maximum against Axar Patel, while Omarzai contributed two boundaries.
Axar, however, ended Omarzai’s stay for 11, with Tilak taking the catch. Rasooli departed soon afterwards for a quick 26 off 15 balls, caught near the boundary by Tilak off Arshdeep Singh. Afghanistan were reduced to 105/6 and appeared set for a total well below 150.
Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan then revived Afghanistan’s innings with an aggressive 48-run partnership. Rashid took the attack to Arshdeep, collecting two fours and a six in the over, while Nabi struck Bumrah for a boundary in the 19th over.
Bumrah eventually ended Nabi’s resistance for 20 off 14 balls, with Shreyas Iyer taking the catch at cover. Nitish produced another crucial breakthrough at the start of the final over, dismissing Rashid for 28 off 16 balls. Axar Patel held an excellent diving catch at deep square leg.
Afghanistan still managed to finish with a flourish. Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up four runs before Noor Ahmad smashed Nitish over mid-wicket for a six from the final delivery, taking Afghanistan to 159/8.
Nitish was India’s most successful bowler, finishing with 3/18, while Arshdeep Singh claimed 2/35. Bumrah returned figures of 1/25 from his four overs.
Brief Scores:
Afghanistan: 159/8 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 37, Rashid Khan 28; Nitish Kumar Reddy 3/18, Arshdeep Singh 2/35) against India.
