India began their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in impressive fashion, defeating Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Abhishek Sharma was the star of the Indian chase, producing a blistering 82-run innings to put the hosts firmly in control.

Afghanistan Post 156 After Early Setbacks

After losing the toss, Afghanistan were asked to bat first and struggled badly in the opening stages. They slipped to 43 runs for five wickets before a crucial recovery changed the momentum of their innings.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi joined forces to rebuild the Afghanistan innings. The pair added 83 runs from 56 balls, giving Afghanistan a competitive total after their early collapse. Nabi contributed 33 from 27 balls, while Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 from 44 deliveries.

Afghanistan eventually finished on 156, setting India a target of 157 runs.

Arshdeep Singh Leads India's Bowling Attack

India's bowling attack made a strong start and kept Afghanistan under pressure throughout the first innings.

Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, returning to the T20I side, also made an impact, while Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy picked up one wicket each.

Bumrah's return was one of the major talking points before the series. He was included in India's 15-member squad for the three-match T20I series, with the matches being played in Delhi.

Abhishek Sharma Turns the Chase Into a One-Sided Contest

India's reply was dominated by Abhishek Sharma.

The left-handed opener attacked the Afghanistan bowling from the beginning and kept the required run rate under control. His aggressive strokeplay allowed India to make rapid progress while chasing 157.

Abhishek eventually scored 82 runs, providing the foundation for India's comfortable chase. His innings was the major difference between the two teams as India moved quickly towards the target.

India reached 139/2 with plenty of overs remaining during the chase, leaving only a small number of runs required for victory.

India Take 1-0 Lead

The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

The series is being played entirely at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 and the third match on September 17.

Abhishek Sharma's explosive batting, combined with an excellent opening spell from India's bowlers, ensured that Afghanistan never fully recovered after their early collapse.

Afghanistan vs India 1st T20I Highlights – Key Points
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Match: 1st T20I, Afghanistan vs India
Afghanistan: 156
India: Chased the target comfortably
Abhishek Sharma: 82 runs
Azmatullah Omarzai: 64* for Afghanistan
Mohammad Nabi: 33 runs
Arshdeep Singh: 3 wickets for 19 runs
Result: India won by seven wickets
Series: India lead 1-0
What’s Next?

India will now look to continue their winning momentum in the second T20I. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will need a much stronger start with the bat after losing five wickets for only 43 runs in the opening match.

With Abhishek Sharma in explosive form and India's bowling unit also performing strongly, the second match promises another interesting contest between the two sides.