Jasprit Bumrah returns as India thrash Afghanistan after Abhishek Sharma's assault in in 1st T20I in New Delhi

September 13, 2026

India secured a convincing seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the opening T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi after captain Shreyas Iyer opted to field first. The visitors suffered an early batting meltdown, sliding to 43/5 in the opening seven overs as Jasprit Bumrah struck in his initial over back from injury to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz via Abhishek Sharma's slip catch.

Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh led the bowling assault with 3/19, while a mix-up cost skipper Ibrahim Zadran his wicket for 11 following a brief stand with Sediqullah Atal, who managed 13. Afghanistan rallied from the collapse to post 156/8, driven by an 83-run counter-attack between Mohammad Nabi, who made 33, and an unbeaten 64 from Azmatullah Omarzai.

Chasing 157, India cruised to 157/3 in just 13.4 overs thanks to a blistering offensive display from Abhishek, who had spent considerable practice time bowling prior to the match. Partnering Sanju Samson at the head of the order in place of the omitted Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek hammered seven boundaries and seven maximums.

Although Samson departed within the Powerplay, Ishan Kishan contributed a brisk 42 from 33 deliveries to help steer the hosts to 82/1 by the end of the sixth over. Nabi claimed 2/28 for the bowling side, but India effortlessly crossed the finish line with plenty of time to spare.