Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive 108 Propels India to Dominant 127-Run Victory

India won by 127 runs in the 147th match of 179 in the T20 Internationals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass with an unbeaten 108 off just 34 balls, striking at 318 with 9 fours and 11 sixes, as India posted 221 for 7. Afghanistan crumbled to 94 all out in 14.1 overs in reply, with Nitish Kumar Reddy taking 3 for 25 and Ravi Bishnoi claiming 3 for 26. India remain ranked 1st in T20I standings with a rating of 268, while Afghanistan sit 10th with 220.

India’s Batting Explosion

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl, but India’s top order seized the initiative immediately. Sanju Samson struck 50 off 35 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes) to set the tone, but the real devastation came from Abhishek Sharma at number three. Sharma’s 108 off 34 balls was a tour de force – 11 sixes and 9 fours at a strike rate of 318 – the kind of innings that reshapes a T20 match in minutes. He was caught at the non-striker’s end in the 9th over at 142 for 2, but by then the damage was done.

Shreyas Iyer contributed 29 off 20 (2 sixes) in a 66-run stand with Sharma that accelerated India past 200. Shivam Dube (14 off 10) and Ishan Kishan (10 off 8) added cameos, though both fell to run-outs in the closing overs. Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 5 off 4.

Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s standout bowler with 2 for 27 from 3 overs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi (0 for 39) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0 for 45) were taken apart. Rashid Khan managed 1 for 43 from 4 overs.

Afghanistan’s Collapse

Afghanistan’s chase never materialised. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was clean bowled by Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 3rd over for 15, and Sediqullah Atal fell for 1 at 33 for 2. Ibrahim Zadran showed some resistance with 25 off 16 (4 fours, 1 six) but was caught at 47 for 2 in the 5th over.

Darwish Rasooli was clean bowled without scoring, and though Azmatullah Omarzai struck 17 off 13 (1 four, 1 six), Afghanistan’s middle order disintegrated. Noor ul Rahman (11 off 15) and Mohammad Nabi (8 off 9) offered token resistance before being caught and bowled respectively. Rashid Khan was clean bowled for 6, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman suffered the same fate for 0.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was the standout bowler with 3 for 25 from 4 overs at an economy of 6.25. Ravi Bishnoi took 3 for 26 from 3.1 overs, while Axar Patel claimed 2 for 9 from 3 overs – a miserly spell that choked Afghanistan’s lower order. Jasprit Bumrah took 1 for 16 from 2 overs and Yash Thakur claimed 1 for 17 from 2.

Statz MVP: Abhishek Sharma (Statz Rating: 160.87)

Abhishek Sharma earns the Statz MVP award with a rating of 160.87. His 108 off 34 balls was the centrepiece of India’s total – a blistering innings that set the tone for the entire match. Statz calculates impact based on match context and match-winning value, and Sharma’s explosive batting in a T20 International against a ranked opponent was as dominant as they come. He was also named official Man of the Match.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

1. Abhishek Sharma (IND) – Statz Rating: 160.87 | 108 off 34 (SR 318, 9 fours, 11 sixes) – Explosive match-winning innings that set India’s platform.
2. Axar Patel (IND) – Statz Rating: 110.17 | 2 for 9 from 3 overs – Miserly spell that strangled Afghanistan’s chase.
3. Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) – Statz Rating: 92.42 | 2 for 27 from 3 overs plus 17 off 13 with the bat – Afghanistan’s standout performer.
4. Nitish Kumar Reddy (IND) – Statz Rating: 59.67 | 3 for 25 from 4 overs at economy 6.25 – Economical and incisive bowling display.
5. Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) – Statz Rating: 49.7 | 25 off 16 (4 fours, 1 six) – Afghanistan’s best batting effort in a losing cause.

Turning Point

The match turned decisively in the 9th over when Abhishek Sharma was caught at 142 for 2. By that point, India had already posted 142 runs in 9 overs – a run rate of 15.8 per over – and Afghanistan’s bowlers were broken. The 79-run stand between Sharma and Sanju Samson had shifted the match entirely in India’s favour, and though Afghanistan’s bowlers stemmed the bleeding in the final overs, the damage was irreversible. India’s final total of 221 proved insurmountable.

Match Context

This was the 147th match of 179 in the T20 Internationals. India remain ranked 1st in the ICC T20I rankings with a rating of 268 and 16,366 points from 61 matches. Afghanistan sit 10th with a rating of 220 and 7,935 points from 36 matches. The 127-run margin of victory underscores India’s dominance – a performance that reinforces their status as the world’s leading T20 side. Check the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, and explore the bet builder for detailed match statistics.