India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2–0 lead in their three-match Twenty20 International series, with Sanju Samson’s explosive 57 off 22 balls powering the hosts to a comfortable victory.
Chasing Afghanistan’s target of 160, India reached the required total with 31 balls remaining, completing another convincing performance in the series at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
The third and final T20I is scheduled for September 17 at the same venue.
Samson was the outstanding performer with the bat, scoring 57 from only 22 deliveries as India produced an aggressive chase.
His innings helped India move quickly towards the target after Afghanistan had posted 159 for eight.
India’s bowlers had earlier restricted Afghanistan to a total that proved insufficient.
Jasprit Bumrah began the Afghan innings with a maiden over before Arshdeep Singh removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz without scoring.
India’s bowlers continued to take wickets at regular intervals and prevented Afghanistan from building the kind of total required to put sustained pressure on the hosts.
Afghanistan struggled to maintain momentum despite contributions from Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli.
Zadran scored 37, while Rasooli added 26, but Afghanistan were six wickets down for 105 after 15 overs.
The visitors eventually reached 159 for eight, leaving India with a target of 160.India’s response was considerably more forceful.
The Indian batting line-up attacked the Afghan bowling from the early stages of the chase, with Samson providing the biggest acceleration.
His 57 came at a strike rate of more than 250 and ensured India did not allow the required run rate to become a significant problem.
The result gives India a 2–0 series advantage with one match remaining.
The teams will meet again on Thursday, September 17, although the series outcome has already been decided.
The series is particularly important for India because it forms part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, where India will defend its T20 cricket title.
The Afghanistan series has therefore provided the Indian team with an opportunity to assess players and combinations before the continental competition.
The timing of the series has also brought fitness issues into focus.
India’s spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled out of the T20 series after suffering a fresh side strain, raising doubts over his availability for the Asian Games.
He had only recently returned from a hamstring injury sustained during India’s tour of England.
Despite those concerns, India’s performances against Afghanistan have provided the team with positive momentum heading into the Asian Games.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, will have one final opportunity to claim a victory in the series when the sides meet again in Delhi on September 17.
For India, however, the immediate objective has already been achieved: the seven-wicket victory secured the series with one match still to play.
