The first ball of the chase set the tone. Abhishek Sharma, opening the innings for India, watched a delivery from Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi fly past him for five wides, and the reprieve was all he needed. On a Sunday afternoon at the Ferozeshah Kotla, the left-hander smashed 82 runs, turning a modest 157-run target into a formality as India cruised to a seven-wicket victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Sharma’s innings was not just about the runs; it was about the method. He struck 10 fours and four sixes, racing to his half-century with a blend of calculated risk and clean hitting that left the Afghanistan bowlers searching for answers. The chase was completed with 20 balls to spare, and the Player of the Match award was a formality. But it was what Sharma said after the game that carried the weight of context.
India arrived in Delhi on the back of a difficult stretch. They lost the T20I series in Ireland 0-2 and then fell in both the T20I and ODI series in England. For a team that had spent the previous year building a reputation for aggressive, attacking cricket, those results raised questions about whether the approach was sustainable. Sharma, however, was unequivocal in his response.
"I still remember two years back, we decided we want to play a certain way and dominate all teams. It worked for a year. But one or two (bad) series won't define our batting. As openers, you want to give a good start as an opener," said Sharma.
The message was clear: the blueprint remains unchanged. India’s batting philosophy, built around taking the game to the opposition from the first over, is not being discarded because of a few poor results. Sharma’s innings was the latest piece of evidence that when it clicks, it can dismantle a bowling attack in a matter of overs.
Captain Shreyas Iyer was quick to spread the credit across the squad, but he reserved particular praise for Jasprit Bumrah, who set the match up with the ball before Sharma took over with the bat. Bumrah struck in the first over, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck and immediately putting Afghanistan on the back foot. From there, Arshdeep Singh and the spin pairing of Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel maintained the pressure, restricting Afghanistan to 156/8.
"Everyone worked in synergy. Bumrah is a great asset, he created momentum for all. Arshdeep (Singh) too. Varun (Chakravarthy) continued that with Axar (Patel)," Iyer said.
The captain also had words for his wicketkeeper-batter, Ishan Kishan, who contributed 42 off 33 balls in a supporting role that helped steady the chase after Sharma’s early assault. "The shots Abhishek played were flawless, exemplary. (Ishan) Kishan has been in great form. He's very relaxed, calm and knows his game," said Iyer.
Kishan’s influence extended beyond his batting. It was his direct-hit run out of Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran that Iyer and others pointed to as a key moment in the match. Zadran, who had been rebuilding the innings after the early loss of Gurbaz, was cut short just as he was looking to accelerate. Afghanistan recovered to post a competitive total, but the loss of their captain at that stage took the momentum out of their innings.
Zadran himself acknowledged the impact of that dismissal. "We batted well in the middle overs but didn't put up a good score. Their (Indian) bowlers and fielders did well, that run out by Kishan (of me) was the turning point I think. They're the best fielding side. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (out for zero) didn't have his day, but he will come back stronger," he said.
Afghanistan’s batting effort was a mixed bag. After the early setback, they managed to rebuild through the middle overs, but the inability to push past 160 left them short against an Indian batting lineup that is built to chase down totals with aggression. The visitors will need to reassess their scoring rate in the remaining two matches of the series if they are to level the contest.
For India, the win was a statement of intent. After the criticism that followed the series defeats in Ireland and England, this performance was a reminder of what this batting group is capable of when conditions suit their approach. Sharma’s innings, in particular, was a direct response to the doubts that had crept in.
The series now moves to the next venue, with India holding a 1-0 advantage. Afghanistan will be looking for a response, and Gurbaz, who failed to score on Sunday, will be eager to make amends for his early dismissal.
According to Yahoo Sports.