Abhishek Sharma smashed a 34-ball 108 as India crushed Afghanistan by 127 runs to complete a 3-0 T20I series sweep.
NEW DELHI, September 18, 2026: India completed a dominant 3-0 T20I series sweep over Afghanistan after securing a comprehensive 127-run victory in the third and final match.
Sent in to bat, India posted 221, with Abhishek Sharma producing another breathtaking display of power hitting. The opener smashed 108 off just 34 balls, reaching his century in only 30 deliveries, while Sanju Samson added a rapid half-century.
India raced to 184/3 after 15 overs as Abhishek tore into the Afghan bowling attack. Afghanistan, however, fought back during the final five overs, with sharp fielding producing three run-outs and restricting India to 221.
Abhishek finished the series with 229 runs at a strike rate of 269.41, earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours.
Afghanistan collapse in chase
India’s bowlers then dismantled Afghanistan’s pursuit. Captain Shreyas Iyer introduced spin during the Powerplay, with Axar Patel taking two wickets in his first over.
Jasprit Bumrah soon removed Rasooli with a trademark yorker, while Ravi Bishnoi claimed three wickets. Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered the decisive blow with three wickets in one over as Afghanistan were bowled out for 94.
Afghanistan initially made a positive start, reaching 31 without loss, but another collapse followed. Captain Ibrahim Zadran was the only batter to score more than 20 as Afghanistan again struggled to turn promising starts into substantial partnerships.
Iyer backs India’s aggressive approach
After the match, Iyer rejected the suggestion that India had bullied Afghanistan, saying his side had shown good intent while focusing on building a challenging total.
Ibrahim admitted the defeat was disappointing but praised Afghanistan’s early intent. He identified clusters of wickets as a major concern and stressed the importance of playing more matches against leading international teams.
Abhishek said India’s aggressive batting philosophy had developed over the past two years and that occasional failures would not change the team’s approach. He credited the captain and coach for giving him the freedom to play his natural game.
The series ended on a sporting note when Indian players invited Ibrahim to join their trophy celebrations for a joint photograph.
India will next travel to Japan for a one-off T20I on September 22, while Afghanistan will face Japan in their Asian Games group-stage opener on September 24. India have qualified directly for the quarter-finals.