India Vs Afghanistan Highlights, 2nd T20I 2026: Abhishek-Sanju Blitz Set Up Men In Blue's Series Victory

Hello, we are back with another live blog, and it is India Vs Afghanistan in the 2nd T20I. Stay tuned for all the live updates.

The India vs Afghanistan T20I series will be live-streamed digitally on the FanCode app and website in India, while the live television telecast will be available on the Sony Sports Network, specifically on Sony Sports Ten 5 (in English) as well as Sony Sports Ten 3 and Sony Sports Ten 4 (for regional language feeds), alongside free-to-air coverage on DD Sports.

Afghanistan faced a tough start to their T20I series in Delhi, suffering an all-round defeat against India following their group-stage exit at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sent in to bat, Afghanistan collapsed early before Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi rescued the innings with an 83-run partnership, pushing the total to 156. However, India comfortably chased the target in quick time, powered by a blistering 82 off 32 balls from Abhishek Sharma. India's victory was anchored by their returning frontline bowling attack, featuring tight spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy, alongside Arshdeep Singh's three-wicket haul that curtailed Afghanistan's late momentum.

India will head into Tuesday's second T20I without Varun Chakaravarthy, who has suffered a fresh side strain after his return and is sidelined as a precaution ahead of the Asian Games. While his absence leaves a vulnerability in India's bowling attack—compounded by the lack of Hardik Pandya as a reliable all-round bowling option—India still enters the match as clear favorites. For Afghanistan, keeping the series alive will depend on a much stronger and more clinical batting display, avoiding cheap wickets, and maintaining discipline to capitalize on India's depleted bowling resources.

India won the toss and decided to bowl first. Injured Chakravarthy is replaced by leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi missed the selection for the second straight time as captain Shreyas Iyer decides to go with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as openers.

Playing XI

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Sediqullah Atal, Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi

India: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi

Rahmanullah Gurbaz's struggles continued as he registered his second consecutive duck of the series, dismissed by Arshdeep Singh. Looking to flat-bat a short-of-a-length delivery angled away outside off, Gurbaz managed only a top edge that looped comfortably to Ravi Bishnoi at mid-on, handing the bowler an early breakthrough.

After losing first wicket in the second over, Ibrahim Zadran made sure the team didn't go in shell. He led the charge from the front and helped Afghanistan to put 41 runs in the powerplay.

At one point Afghanistan was batting on 2/1 after the first two overs. This is the lowest score by Afghanistan from the first two overs. However, the captain took the responsibility to accelarate.

Nitish Kumar Reddy breaks the fifty runs partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. He gets Ibrahim on his very first delivery of the match. Nitish bowled a length delivery that was picked up well by Ibrahim but got straight into Ravi Bishnoi's hand. Ibrahim departs after scoring 37 runs.

Ravi Bishnoi strikes and gets his first wicket of the series. Sediqullah Atal tried accelerating, but got out at long-off as Tilak Varma grabs an easy catch.

Nitish Kumar Reddy keeps his magic going as he gets another wicket. This time Nitish gets Gulbadin as the latter tries to push the ball in the leg side only to edge it. The ball goes high but wicketkeeper Sanju Samson didn't do any mistake and completes the catch cleanly.

Afghanistan were trying to claw back in the game, but Axar Patel gets the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai and keeps the host in check.

Relive the first wicket of the match!

Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi are in the middle for Afghanistan, trying to provide acceleration. Mohammed Nabi took matters into his own hand and hit Ravi Bishnoi for a four and a six on consecutive deliveries.

Rashid Khan is doing everything he can to take Afghanistan to a respectable total, which can also be defended. Rashid along with Nabi, attacked Bumrah and got 10 runs off his over.

Later they took Arshdeep to the cleaners and scored 16 runs off his over.

Afghanistan was looking to big on the back of Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi's partnership, but Jasprit Bumrah did what he does best: provided a breakthrough when it was needed the most. He got Nabi's wicket as he was trying to go big.

Afghanistan finished on 159 for 8 with the help of a six from the last ball of the innings. The total is almost identical to their total in the previous game. Their innings followed a similar pattern to the earlier encounter. India made a dream start, with Jasprit Bumrah bowling a maiden before dismissing Gurbaz for his second consecutive duck of the series. Afghanistan were reduced to 2/1 after two overs but recovered well, reaching 41/1 by the end of the Powerplay.

Ibrahim Zadran led the attack, but was soon sent back to pavilion by Nitish Reddy as he got his name in the wicket column on the very first delivery. From there India kept striking on regular intervals before Mohammed Nabi and Rashid Khan stiched a 48 runs partnership to keep Afghanistan afloat. Darwish also played cameo scoring 24 runs.

Chase Begins! India’s opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma begins the chase. Samson takes strike and gets off the mark, opening India’s account with the first ball. Abhishek then attacks the very next delivery, getting off the mark with a boundary. India finishes the first over on 12 runs.

India have started the chase in stark contrast to Afghanistan. The visitors were 2/1 after two overs, while India have raced to 21 without losing a wicket in the first two overs. Abhishek Sharma has led the charge, scoring 16 runs off just seven balls.

India race to fifty in just five overs, making a flying start to the chase. Abhishek Sharma is leading the charge, clearing the ropes with ease. Sanju Samson joins the party in style, smashing Azmatullah Omarzai for a four, a six and another four off three consecutive deliveries to take India to the 50-run mark.

The opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have given India a flying start to the chase. Both batters have taken the Afghan bowlers to the cleaners, finding boundaries with ease. Abhishek started the assault before Samson joined the party in style. India plundered 27 runs from Mohammed Nabi’s over.

Abhishek began the final over of the Powerplay with a six before taking a single off the next ball to hand the strike to Samson. The wicketkeeper-batter then smashed six, four, four and six off four consecutive deliveries to race towards his fifty.

Rashid Khan has turned the game on its head, striking twice in the first over after the Powerplay. He first removed Abhishek Sharma for 39 off 19 balls, ending India’s explosive opening stand. Abhishek attempted to clear mid-wicket but mistimed the shot, handing Sedikullah Atal a straightforward catch. Rashid then dismissed Sanju Samson for a well-made 57 off 22 balls. Samson looked set for a big score after smashing four, six, six and four during the Powerplay, but his lofted drive found Mohammad Nabi at long-off. Afghanistan have finally broken India’s momentum with two wickets in quick succession.

1000-plus runs as an opener for IND in T20Is
3750 - Rohit Sharma (SR: 143.02, Bnd%: 20.33)
1826 - KL Rahul (SR: 136.98, Bnd%: 17.34)
1759 - Shikhar Dhawan (SR: 126.36, Bnd%: 17.31)
1726 - Abhishek Sharma (SR: 191.56, Bnd%: 31.63)
1026 - Sanju Samson (SR: 181.59, Bnd%: 29.73)

India have slowed down after the explosive Powerplay, losing both openers and scoring more cautiously. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer are rebuilding, with Afghanistan’s spinners tightening the pressure.

Ishan T20I Performance This Year (Before this innings)

Matches: 24

Runs: 854

Average: 35.85

Strike Rate: 173.57

Highest Score: 103

The Afghan spinners have tightened the screws after the Powerplay and the mounting pressure has finally paid off with another breakthrough. Another strike from Rashid Khan, Shreyas Iyer is out for 11. Iyer tried to bowl a quicker delivery outside off through the off-side but only managed an outside edge. The ball flew to slip where Ibrahim Zadran couldn’t hold on at first. But the Afghanistan skipper kept his cool and reacted smartly to hold on to the catch second time around. It is Rashid's third wicket as Afghanistan stay in the contest. India continue their chase.

Ishan Kishan has adopted a more cautious approach as India look to finish the chase without taking unnecessary risks. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman returned for his second spell in the 12th over after conceding 12 in his first, but managed to keep the scoring in check, giving away just eight runs.

Fazalhaq Farooqi followed with a disciplined over, refusing to offer India any loose deliveries. He conceded only six runs as Afghanistan continued to search for a way back into the contest. India move to 139/3 after 13 overs, steadily closing in on the target.

Ishan Kishan comes out of his shell after being struck by a Fazalhaq Farooqi delivery. With India closing in on victory, the left-hander takes on Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, smashing a four, six and another four off the final three balls of the over. India complete the chase in Rashid’s over to seal a comfortable victory.