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India vs Afg 3rd T20I Updates: India rout Afghanistan, sweep series

Thu, 17 September 2026

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22:46

Abhishek stars with century for India

Afghanistan 94 all out (14.1 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Nitish Kumar Reddy with his third over and Abdullah Ahmadzai hits a back of a length delivery outside off straight to the fielder at long-off but refuses to take the single.

A dot later, he goes deep into his crease and hoists a full delivery to the long-off fence.

Two dots and a single to mid-wicket to end the five-run over.

Afghanistan need 128 off 37 balls.

Ravi Bishnoi is bowling out and he strikes! Abdullah Ahmadzai is out, caught by Axar Patel.

Afghanistan are bundled out for 94 in 14.1 overs as India win by 127 runs in the third T20I to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Abhishek Sharma recorded the fastest-ever century for an Indian and third quickest overall to fashion India's massive victory.

After putting on 221/7 on board, riding on Abhishek's 34-ball 108 and Sanju Samson's 50, the 'visiting side' India bowled Afghanistan out for 94 in 14.1 overs.

Abhishek's third century in T20Is - from only 30 balls - was not only the fastest ever for any Indian but also the quickest for any batter from full member countries.

Nitish Kumar Reddy (3/25) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/26) were the pick among Indian bowlers, while Axar Patel also took two wickets.

22:31

India on verge of huge win

Afghanistan 89-9 (13 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Ravi Bishnoi is back into the attack with his third and Rashid Khan plays the first delivery defensively before cuts one away through deep backward point for a boundary.

A wide outside off and a single to cover follow.

Another single to point brings Rashid back on strike.

Out! Bishnoi outfoxes Rashid as his leg stump goes for a walk!

Rashid goes for 6 off 5 balls with a lone hit to the fence.

Fazalhaq Farooqi is the last man in and he plays out a dot to end the 7-run over.

22:27

Reddy picks 3; Afghanistan in tatters

Afghanistan 82-8 (12 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Axar Patel is back into the attack and Mohammad Nabi taps the full delivery to the left of the bowler for no run before tucks the next to mid-wicket for a single.

A dot later, Azmatullah Omarzai nudges one to mid-wicket and scampers for a single.

A single to deep mid-wicket and a dot to end the 3-run over.

Nitish Kumar Reddy with his third over. Out! Reddy cleans up Nabi who makes room and looks to smash a straight delivery out of the ground but misses it completely as the ball crashes onto his middle stump.

Nabi goes for 8 off nine balls with a lone hit to the fence.

Rashid Khan comes to the crease and cuts the first delivery to backward point for a single.

Out! Another one bites the dust. Azmatullah Omarzai is out, looking to go inside out but ends up holing out to Ravi Bishnoi who takes a safe catch.

Omarzai goes for 17 off 13 balls with a boundary and a six.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman comes to the crease and plays out a dot before Reddy clean-bowls him! Wicket-to-wicket stuff and Mujeeb attempts to hit it out of the park but gets beaten.

Mujeeb goes for a 2-ball duck.

Abdullah Ahmadzai comes to the crease and sees off the final delivery of the over. Three wickets and a single run came off it.

22:14

Afghanistan lose half the side

Afghanistan 78-5 (10 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Ravi Bishnoi with his second over and starts off with a full delivery on off which Azmatullah Omarzai gleefully smacks over long-on for a maximum.

Bishnoi pulls his length back and three singles follow before Bishnoi gets his first scalp.

Noor ul Rahman is out, caught by Nitish Kumar Reddy. Afghanistan lose their fifth.

Rahman goes for 11 off 15 balls with two boundaries.

Mohammad Nabi comes to the crease and gets off the mark with a boundary to deep backward point.

13 runs came off the over.

Nitish Reddy is back with his second over and Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai rotate the strike with three singles off the first three balls.

Two dots later, Nabi drills one down to long-on for a single.

Just four runs came off the over.

Afghanistan are 78-5 at the half-way mark, still needing 144 off 60 balls.

22:05

Afghanistan in deep trouble

Afghanistan 61-4 (8 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Ravi Bishnoi comes into the attack and Azmatullah Omarzai whips the quicker delivery to backward square leg for a single.

A wide down the leg follows.

Noor ul Rahman then pushes a full delivery to covers and gets a single.

A dot and a single to cover follow before Bishnoi sends one down the leg and is called a wide.

A dot and a single to backward pint to end the 6-run over.

Axar Patel is back into the attack and Noor ul Rahman mistimes a loft to long-off and Tilak Varma drops a sitter!

Two dots later, Rahman gets a boundary through square of third man.

Two more dots to end the 4-run over.

Afghanistan need 161 off 72 balls.

21:56

Afghanistan fall apart

Afghanistan 51-4 (6 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Darwish Rasooli is the new man in as Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack.

Ibrahim Zadran is on strike and he smashes a good length delivery from Bumrah through wide of long-on and finds a boundary.

Two dots and a wide down the leg follow.

Zadran then clips a length delivery to square leg for a single.

Out! Bumrah cleans up Rasooli with a beauty.

Rasooli goes for a golden duck.

Azmatullah Omarzai comes to the crease and gets off the mark with a boundary through extra cover.

10 runs came off the over.

Yash Thakur is back into the attack and Zadran smashes a back of a length delivery on off through deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Out! Zadran goes, caught by Ishan Kishan as looks to flick a full delivery slanting onto the pads but fails to get the elevation as Kishan takes a smart catch at deep square leg.

Zadran goes for 25 off 16 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Noor ul Rahman comes to the crease and plays out three dots before getting off the mark with a boundary through deep mid-wicket.

8 runs came off the over.

21:46

Axar twin strikes rattle Afghanistan

Afghanistan 33-2 (4 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Yash Thakur comes into the attack and Ibrahim Zadran clears his front foot and slogs the full delivery on off to the deep mid-wicket fence.

Two singles follow before Zadran hammers the overpitched delivery over the bowler's head for another boundary.

Two dots to end the 10-run over.

Axar Patel comes into the attack and strikes straightaway. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is clean-bowled! Length delivery on stumps and Gurbaz backs away to cut it away but is beaten and the ball hit his middle-stump.

Gurbaz goes for 15 off 11 balls with three boundaries.

Sediqullah Atal comes to the crease and plays out a dot before opening his account with a single.

A dot and a single follow before Sediqullah perishes, caught by Abhishek Sharma. Length delivery spinning away and Sediqullah looks to pull it over mid-wicket but ends up top-edging it and Abhishek takes a good running catch.

He goes for 1 off 3 balls. Just two runs came off Axar's first over.

21:34

Afghanistan begin with right intent

Afghanistan 21-0 (2 ovs) vs India 221-7 | Scorecard

Afghanistan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are ready for the stiff chase.

Nitish Kumar Reddy to open the bowling for India. Gurbaz is on strike and he starts off with a good length delivery on stumps and the batter taps it back to the bowler before hitting back-to-back boundaries, through deep backward point.

Follows it up with a single to before Zadran picks up a shortish delivery on leg stump and sends it over the deep mid-wicket fence for the first six of the innings.

A dot to end the over. 15 runs came off it.

Jasprit Bumrah to bowl from the other end he starts off with two dots before Gurbaz tucks a loss full toss to backward square leg for a single.

Zadran then pulls one to fine leg and gets a single.

Four! Full delivery outside off and Gurbaz guides it through point and finds the boundary.

A dot to end the 6-run over.

21:24

Abhishek ton fires India to big total

India 221-7 (20 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Fazalhaq Farooqi to bowl the final over and Axar Patel drives the first delivery, straight on off stump, past the bowler and picks up a single.

Shreyas Iyer is on strike and he looks to dig out a yorker but is beaten on the outside edge.

A single to short third man brings Axar back on strike.

Another yorker and Shreyas squeezes it into the off-side for a couple.

Shreyas is run out as he looks to steal a quick single after tapping one to mid-off.

Shreyas goes for a 20-ball 29 with two sixes.

Ravi Bishnoi joins Axar in the middle.

Full delivery on stumps and Axar backs away and carves it to deep extra cover for a couple. Good running between the wickets.

Axar edges one onto his pads and scampers for a single. Just six runs came off the final over of the innings as India finish with 221/7.

Abhishek Sharma's fastest-ever century -- a 34-ball 108 -- fired India to a massive total against Afghanistan in the third and final T20I.

Abhishek, who completed his century off 30 balls, struck an overall 11 sixes and nine fours to break Rohit Sharma's record (37 balls) for fastest T20I ton for India.

Abhishek put on 142 runs with Sanju Samson, who also chimed in with a 35-ball 50 with four sixes and two fours.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer scored 29 with two sixes but India also lost momentum towards the end with regular wickets.

21:09

Reddy falls; India eye big total

India 215-6 (19 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Abdullah Ahmadzai with his final over and Nitish Kumar Reddy plays out two dots before offering an easy catch to Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Afghanistan have recovered well after the spectacular first-wicket stand between Abhishek and Samson.

He goes for 1 off 4 balls.

Axar Patel is the new man in and he gets off the mark with a single to cover.

Shreyas Iyer then drills one to long-off and gets a couple.

Six! Shreyas finishes the over with a monstrous hit over the long-off fence.

9 runs came off the over.

21:03

India race past 200

India 206-5 (18 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Abdullah Ahmadzai with his third over and keeps it nice and tight but bowls two wides down the leg.

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are happy to rotate the strike with singles.

Five singles came off the first five balls before Shreyas flicks a full toss on the middle stump to wide of long-on and picks up three runs.

10 runs came off the over. 200 up for India.

Fazalhaq Farooqi is back with his third over and Shreyas mistimes the first ball to mid-wicket for a quick single.

Kishan then muscles a full delivery but fails to connect it well. He will get only a single as Rashid cuts it off at long-on.

Another single to long-on follows.

Yorker and Kishan digs it out to cover for a quick single.

Out! Shreyas gets off for a single after edging one behind the stumps. Kishan responds but Rahmanullah Gurbaz sends him packing with a direct hit.

Kishan goes for 10 off 8 balls with a lone hit to the fence.

Nitish Kumar Reddy comes to the crease and opens his account with a single to long-off.

Five runs came off the over.

20:54

Dube departs; India 4 down

India 191-4 (16 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Shivam Dube and Shreyas Iyer amass 17 runs off Rashid Khan's final over.

Dube is out in the next over, caught brilliantly by Rashid off Azmatullah Omarzai's bowling.

Ishan Kishan comes and gets off the mark with an eye-pleasing square cut for a boundary.

7 runs came off the over as India are poised for a big total.

20:38

Samson falls after 34-ball fifty

India 167-3 (14 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is bowling out and Sanju Samson drills the first delivery down the ground for a boundary and picks up a single off the next ball through mid-wicket.

Shreyas Iyer then taps one to backward square leg for a single.

Samson then completes his fifty off 34 balls with a single to long-on.

Shreyas gets a couple by steering a shortish delivery to backward square leg.

A dot to finish the over. 9 runs came off it.

Azmatullah Omarzai is back into the attack and he strikes! Sanju Samson is out, caught brilliantly by Rashid Khan at long-off. Full delivery on stumps, and Samson lofts it straight to Rashid.

Samson goes for 50 off 35 balls with two boundaries and four sixes.

Shivam Dube comes to the crease and plays out a dot before opening his account with a single to cover.

A dot and a single to long-on follow.

Another single to mid-off to end the 3-run over.

20:28

Afghanistan fight back with quick wickets

India 155-2 (12 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back with his third over and Sanju Samson hoists him over the deep extra cover for maximum.

A single to short fine leg brings Tilak Varma on strike who tucks one to mid-wicket and scampers for a single.

Two singles and a dot off the next three balls. 10 runs came off the over.

Rashid Khan continues and runs Tilak Varma out with a direct hit!

Tilak goes for 2 off 5 balls.

Shreyas Iyer comes to the crease as Samson nudges one to square for a quick single.

A dot later, Shreyas gets off the mark with a single to extra cover.

A dot and a single to square of the wicket to end the 3-run over.

20:20

Abhishek falls after blistering ton

India 142-1 (10 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Abdullah Ahmadzai continues and Sanju Samson taps a low full toss to long-on for a single.

Abhishek Sharma then smokes one over deep mid-wicket for a six before completing his century off 30 balls with a single. It's his third century in the format and is the fastest by batter from a Test-playing nation.

Two singles to mid-wicket and deep mid-wicket follow.

A dot to end the 10-run over.

Rashid Khan is back into the attack and Abhishek carts the first delivery over the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

A single to mid-wicket and two dots follow.

Samson then glances a full delivery on the pads to mid-wicket for a single.

Out! Abhishek Sharma is out, caught by Rahmanullah Gurbaz as he looks to drive a full delivery outside off but ends up nicking it to the keeper.

Abhishek goes for a 34-ball 108 with nine boundaries and eleven sixes.

Tilak Varma comes to the crease and survives an LBW appeal.

8 runs came off the successful over.

20:07

Abhishek destroys Afghan bowling

India 124-0 (8 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Abdullah Ahmadzai comes into the attack and Sanju Samson sits back and pierces the gap on the off-side with a stylish cut for a boundary.

A dot and a single to deep mid-wicket follow.

Two dots later, Abhishek pulls a shortish delivery to the deep backward square leg fence.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back into the attack and Samson plays out a dot before punching the next delivery to deep extra cover for a single.

Six! Full delivery on stumps and Abhishek smashes it over the bowler's head for a maximum.

A single to long-off brings Samson back on strike, who taps the next delivery to extra cover for a single.

Six! Abhishek moves into the 90s with a maximum straight down the ground.

15 runs came off the over.

19:59

Abhishek hits 16-ball fifty

India 100-0 (6 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Mohammad Nabi comes into the attack and Sanju Samson greets him with a towering six over the long-off fence.

Six more! Similar delivery and Samson responds in style.

Dropped! Samson hits one straight to the fielder at mid-off but Ibrahim Zadran spills a tough chance. A single is taken.

Six! Abhishek completes his fifty off 16 balls with a massive six over long-on off a shortish delivery.

Follows it up with a boundary through square of the wicket.

Six! Abhishek finishes the over with another six over long-on.

29 runs came off the over.

Rashid Khan comes into the attack and Samson plays out a dot before tapping the next delivery to mid-off for a single.

Abhishek is beaten on the outside edge before he responds with back-to-back boundaries.

Six! Abhishek smashes the final delivery of the over for maximum.

100 up for India in the Powerplay. 15 runs came off Rashid's first over.

19:49

Abhishek on the attack; India on top

India 56-0 (4 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

Fazalhaq Farooqi continues and Sanju Samson guides the first delivery, a length ball down the leg, to backward square leg for a single.

Six! In the slot and Abhishek Sharma bludgeons it over the long-off fence.

Six more! Attempted bouncer and Abhishek pulls it over fine leg for back-to-back maximums.

Follows it up with a two boundaries through deep square leg and fine leg.

A couple to deep extra cover to end the 23-run over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman comes into the attack and Samson plays out two dots before he leans forward and hammers an overpitched delivery straight down the ground for a maximum.

50 up for India.

Samson works the next delivery down to long-on for a single.

Abhishek they hits one straight to the fielder at mid-on for no run before blasting one to the long-off fence.

11 runs came off the over.

19:40

India off to a solid start

India 22-0 (2 ovs) vs Afghanistan | Scorecard

India openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are out in the middle.

Fazalhaq Farooqi with the new ball for Afghanistan. Samson, who struck a blistering fifty in the previous game, is on strike. Farooqi starts with a back of a length delivery on stumps and Samson plays it defensively.

Another dot later, Samson gets off the mark with a single to deep backward point.

Abhishek is on strike and he knocks one down to the cover fielder for no run.

Four! Abhishek frees his arms and lofts the full length delivery of the infield for the first boundary of the Indian innings.

A dot to end the first over. Five runs came off it.

Azmatullah Omarzai to bowl from the other end and Samson nudges the first delivery to backward point for a single.

Six! Shortish delivery on the pads and Abhishek pulls it over the deep backward square leg fence for a maximum.

A dot later, Abhishek mistimes one but the ball races away to the long-on fence.

A dot follows before Abhishek finishes the over with another six over deep extra cover. 17 runs came off the over.

19:23

Yash Thakur replaces Arshdeep Singh

India made one change, bringing in pacer Yash Thakur for Arshdeep Singh.

India stuck to the opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, and it meant that teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will not get a game in this series.

Have a look at the Playing XIs:

India: Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper), Sediqullah Atal, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Darwish Rasooli, Noor-ul-Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

19:07

India make one change

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran has won the toss and has decided to bowl first in the third and final T20I against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

"We are going to bowl first. There will be some support for the bowlers at the start. We have lost the series but we have thought about the areas where we haven't done well. India are one of the best teams. We want to keep things easier for us. We have two changes," Zadran said after winning the toss.

India skipper Shreyas Iyer said: "We would have batted first. It also gives us a fun challenge. It's important that we stick to the moment and not complicate things. Just one change, Yash comes in for Arsh.'

18:46

Will India test bench strength?

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the third and final T20I between Afghanistan and India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

With the series already secured, India could use the inconsequential tie to experiment with their playing combination and hand opportunities to players waiting on the sidelines.

India Dominate Afghanistan

India have been virtually unstoppable on home turf, where familiar conditions have allowed them to dominate an Afghanistan side that has struggled to match their intensity.

After sealing the series on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, captain Shreyas Iyer indicated that changes could be on the cards for the final encounter at Feroz Shah Kotla.

The game offers the management a chance to give valuable match time to the reserves before the squad heads to Japan for the Asian Games, beginning September 19.

Spotlight on Sooryavanshi

One player who could be in focus is teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. However, finding him a place in the XI may not be straightforward.

Sanju Samson has found form, while Abhishek Sharma has also delivered consistently. With both considered regulars in the format, resting either could be a difficult decision.

Ishan Kishan is another possible candidate for a break after captaining East Zone in the Duleep Trophy before joining the national squad. Samson has handled wicketkeeping duties during the series.

India May Consider Line-Up Tweaks

India could also look to give Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma more time in the middle. Their explosive top order has left little work for the remaining batters, with Nitish Reddy and Shivam Dube yet to make an appearance with the bat.

Reddy's return to the wickets in the second T20I was another positive. Viewed as cover for Hardik Pandya, he remains an important part of India's plans.

Ravi Bishnoi, who replaced the injured Varun Chakaravarthy, could get another opportunity, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh continue to provide a formidable new-ball attack.

Afghanistan Look to Avert Whitewash

For Afghanistan, batting remains the biggest concern.

They will need a substantially improved powerplay and a total around 200 if they are to put India under pressure.

A strong finish would also provide valuable momentum before their trip to Japan.

Squads:

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (Captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper), Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor-ul-Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sediqullah Atal, Rashid Khan, Darwish Rasooli, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Naveen-ul-Haq, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

India: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Thakur.

Match starts at 7.30 pm

India vs Afg 3rd T20I Updates: India rout Afghanistan, sweep series

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