The Indian cricket team began its three-match AFG vs IND T20I 2026 in Delhi with a comfortable seven-wicket win against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.
Afghanistan, who were put into bat first, posted 156/8 with Azmatullah Omarzai leading the way with an unbeaten 64.
India went on to chase down the total in 13.4 overs, with Abhishek Sharma hammering 82 in 32 balls. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers for India, finishing with figures of 3/19.
Chasing 165 to win, India got off to a brisk start despite losing Sanju Samson in the third over.
Along with Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma took the attack to Afghanistan’s bowlers unleashing an onslaught to smash five fours and three sixes as India raced to 82/1 by the end of the powerplay, more than halfway to the target.
The introduction of spin after the powerplay briefly slowed India’s scoring rate, but they continued to score at a healthy pace as Abhishek Sharma brought up his 12th T20I fifty off 22 balls.
Abhishek Sharma then upped the ante against the Afghanistan spinners, hitting three sixes and a four in the space of eight balls to leave India needing just 27 runs at the halfway stage.
Sharma fell in the very next over, with Ishan Kishan also perishing soon after, but the pair’s 121-run partnership had already taken the game away from Afghanistan as India strolled to the win, with Indian T20 captain Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma carrying them over the line.
Earlier, Afghanistan, who were put into bat first, lost half their side inside seven overs after India’s bowlers made early inroads.
India struck with the second ball of the match as Jasprit Bumrah, who marked his return to the team from injury, by dismissing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who edged to slip for a duck.
Newly-appointed skipper Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal briefly steadied the innings before the Afghanistan captain was run out in the fourth over.
Afghanistan then lost three wickets in as many overs to slip to 43/5 after seven overs, putting India firmly in control of the contest.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi then put together an 83-run partnership before Arshdeep Singh returned to break the stand.
Afghanistan lost two more wickets off successive deliveries in the penultimate over, but Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman combined to score 21 runs in the final over and take Afghanistan past the 150-run mark.
India will face Afghanistan in the second match of the Friendship Cup series at the same venue on Tuesday.
AFG vs IND, T20 2026 match 1, brief scores: Afghanistan 156/8 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 64 not out; Arsheep Singh 3/19) lost to India 157/3 in 13.4 overs (Abhishek Sharma 82; Mohammad Nabi 2/28) by seven wickets.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/afghanistan-vs-india-t20-cricket-2026-match-1-report
