India beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets (with 31 balls remaining) – T20 Internationals Match Report
India won by 7 wickets (with 31 balls remaining) in the 143rd match of 179 in T20 Internationals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Sanju Samson produced a devastating display with the bat – 57 off just 22 balls at a strike rate of 259 – to dismantle Afghanistan‘s bowling attack and secure a commanding victory. The win underlines India’s dominance in the format, with the hosts chasing down 160 in just 14.5 overs.
Afghanistan’s Batting Collapse
India won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a duck at 0/1 in the opening over, setting the tone for a chaotic Afghanistan innings. Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 37 off 33 balls (6 fours) before being caught at 51/1 in the 8th over, but Afghanistan never found rhythm.
Sediqullah Atal managed 12 off 15 at 59/3, and Gulbadin Naib contributed just 10 off 8 before falling at 67/4. Azmatullah Omarzai was caught for 11 at 96/6 in the 13th over, leaving Afghanistan’s middle order in tatters. Darwish Rasooli injected some aggression with 26 off 15 (1 four, 2 sixes) at 100/5, but it proved too little, too late.
Mohammad Nabi struck 20 off 14 (2 fours, 1 six) and Rashid Khan blasted 28 off 16 (3 fours, 1 six) in a late-order salvage attempt, but Afghanistan’s 159 for 8 never looked competitive. Nitish Kumar Reddy was the standout bowler for India, claiming 3 for 24 from 3 overs at an economy of 8. Arshdeep Singh took 2 for 35 from 4 overs, while Jasprit Bumrah (1/25 from 4), Axar Patel (1/28 from 4) and Ravi Bishnoi (1/32 from 4) all contributed to the stranglehold.
India’s Explosive Chase
The chase was over almost before it began. Sanju Samson took Afghanistan’s bowling to the cleaners, striking 7 fours and 4 sixes in his 22-ball assault. He was caught at 99/1 in the 6th over, but by then the match was effectively decided. Abhishek Sharma complemented Samson’s aggression with 39 off 19 (2 fours, 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 205, falling at 88/2 in the 6th over.
Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38 off 23 (3 fours, 2 sixes), providing the finishing touches with an unbroken 65-run stand alongside Tilak Varma (15 not out off 14). Shreyas Iyer contributed 11 off 11 before being caught at 123/3 in the 10th over, but India’s top order had already done the heavy lifting.
Rashid Khan was Afghanistan’s sole bright spot with the ball, claiming 3 for 36 from 3.5 overs at an economy of 9.39. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0/37 from 3) and Mohammad Nabi (0/44 from 3) were taken apart, while Azmatullah Omarzai (0/25 from 2) and Noor Ahmad (0/14 from 2) also struggled to contain the onslaught.
Statz MVP: Rashid Khan (Statz Rating: 114.24)
Rashid Khan earns the Statz MVP award despite Afghanistan’s defeat, with an mi_rating of 114.24. The all-rounder delivered across both disciplines – 28 off 16 with the bat (3 fours, 1 six) and 3 for 36 with the ball – showcasing his value as Afghanistan’s premier player. In a match where India’s batting firepower proved overwhelming, Rashid’s individual contribution stood out as the most impactful performance on the day.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Rashid Khan (AFG) – Statz Rating: 114.24 | 28 off 16 (SR 175) plus 3/36 from 3.5 overs. All-round excellence in a losing effort.
- Sanju Samson (IND) – Statz Rating: 100.97 | 57 off 22 (SR 259, 7 fours, 4 sixes). Explosive batting display that won the match in the powerplay.
- Abhishek Sharma (IND) – Statz Rating: 62.9 | 39 off 19 (SR 205, 2 fours, 4 sixes). Aggressive support to Samson in the chase.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (IND) – Statz Rating: 58.05 | 3/24 from 3 overs at economy 8. Miserly bowling that set the tone early.
- Darwish Rasooli (AFG) – Statz Rating: 49.67 | 26 off 15 (SR 173, 1 four, 2 sixes). Lone bright spot in Afghanistan’s middle order.
Turning Point
The match turned decisively when Sanju Samson took Afghanistan’s opening bowlers apart in the first six overs of the chase. By the time he was caught at 99/1 in the 6th over, India had already scored at a rate that made the target academic. Afghanistan’s inability to take early wickets – combined with their own batting fragility – left them with no pathway back into the contest.
Match Context
This was the 143rd match of 179 in T20 Internationals. India (ranked 1st in the ICC T20I rankings with a rating of 268) continue their dominance with a comprehensive victory, while Afghanistan (ranked 10th with a rating of 220) will need to regroup. Check the full scorecard and head-to-head record on Statz, or explore the bet builder for further analysis of this dominant performance at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
