The India vs Afghanistan cricket rivalry produced another memorable T20I series in September 2026. India completed a 3-0 series sweep against Afghanistan after winning all three matches of the Friendship Cup T20I series in New Delhi.
The biggest highlight of the India vs Afghanistan series was Abhishek Sharma’s extraordinary performance in the third T20I. He scored 108 runs from 34 balls, reaching his century in only 30 deliveries, setting a new record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter.
The series was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from 13 September to 17 September 2026, with all three matches taking place at the same venue. The series was confirmed by the BCCI and Afghanistan Cricket Board as part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Programme.
India vs Afghanistan Latest News: India Completes 3-0 Series Sweep
The latest major India vs Afghanistan update is that India won the three-match T20I series 3-0.
India won the first T20I by seven wickets, the second T20I by seven wickets and the third T20I by 127 runs.
The final match on 17 September turned into a record-breaking contest after India scored 221/7 before dismissing Afghanistan for just 94 in 14.1 overs.
The BCCI’s official match report confirmed India’s 3-0 Friendship Cup sweep and highlighted Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking innings.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I: Abhishek Sharma Creates History
The third India vs Afghanistan T20I on 17 September was dominated by Abhishek Sharma.
India batted first and posted 221/7 in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma scored 108 runs from 34 deliveries, including:
- 9 fours
- 11 sixes
- Century in 30 balls
- Strike rate of more than 300
His century came in only 30 balls, making it the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. It was also the third-fastest century in men’s T20I cricket at that time.
India then bowled Afghanistan out for 94 in 14.1 overs, winning the match by 127 runs.
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
India vs Afghanistan Abhishek Sharma Record: 30-Ball Century
The most searched part of the recent India vs Afghanistan series has been Abhishek Sharma’s 30-ball century.
According to the BCCI, Abhishek’s 30-ball hundred surpassed Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of a 35-ball T20I century, scored against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Abhishek’s 108-run innings also included 11 sixes, giving him one of the biggest six-hitting performances by an Indian men’s batter in a T20I innings.
He finished the three-match series with 229 runs, averaging 76.33, with a remarkable strike rate of 269.41.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Scorecard: India 221/7 vs Afghanistan 94
The third India vs Afghanistan match produced the following result:
India – 221/7 in 20 overs
Key Indian batting performances included:
- Abhishek Sharma – 108 off 34 balls
- Sanju Samson – 50
- Shreyas Iyer – 29
- Shivam Dube – 14
- Ishan Kishan – 10
Afghanistan were dismissed for 94 runs in 14.1 overs.
India therefore won by 127 runs.
For Afghanistan, the Indian bowling attack regularly took wickets and prevented a sustained chase.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Bowling: Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi Shine
The bowling performance was another major feature of the final India vs Afghanistan match.
Nitish Kumar Reddy took 3 wickets for 25 runs, while Ravi Bishnoi also claimed 3 wickets for 26 runs according to the ICC match report.
The Indian bowling attack quickly put Afghanistan under pressure after the visitors began their chase.
Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 94, giving India a 127-run victory and a 3-0 series sweep.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I: India Won by Seven Wickets
The second India vs Afghanistan T20I was played on 15 September 2026 in Delhi.
Afghanistan scored 159/8 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first.
India successfully chased the target, scoring 163/3 in 14.5 overs and winning by seven wickets with 31 balls remaining.
Sanju Samson was the major attraction in India’s chase.
India vs Afghanistan Sanju Samson: 57 Runs From 22 Balls
Sanju Samson produced an aggressive innings in the second India vs Afghanistan T20I.
He scored:
57 runs from 22 balls
His innings included:
- 7 fours
- 4 sixes
- Strike rate of 259.09
Abhishek Sharma also contributed 39 runs from 19 balls.
The opening pair helped India reach 82/0 during the Powerplay, putting the chase firmly under control.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was named Player of the Match after taking 3/24 for India.
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: India Won by Seven Wickets
The first India vs Afghanistan T20I took place on 13 September 2026.
Afghanistan scored 156/8 in 20 overs.
India chased down the target in just 13.4 overs, winning by seven wickets.
Abhishek Sharma was the star of India’s chase.
He scored:
82 runs from 32 balls
His innings contained seven fours and seven sixes.
Ishan Kishan supported him with 42 runs, and the pair produced a 121-run partnership that effectively decided the chase.
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Arshdeep Singh Leads the Bowling Attack
In the opening India vs Afghanistan match, Arshdeep Singh was India’s leading wicket-taker.
He finished with:
3 wickets for 19 runs
Jasprit Bumrah also made a successful return to T20I cricket, bowling an economical spell and taking one wicket.
Afghanistan’s best batting performance came from Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored 64 runs from 44 balls.
However, Afghanistan’s top order struggled, and India chased the target comfortably.
India vs Afghanistan Series Results: Complete Match List
The complete India vs Afghanistan T20I series results are:
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I
Date: 13 September 2026
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Afghanistan: 156/8
India: 157/3 in 13.4 overs
Result: India won by 7 wickets.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I
Date: 15 September 2026
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Afghanistan: 159/8
India: 163/3 in 14.5 overs
Result: India won by 7 wickets.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I
Date: 17 September 2026
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
India: 221/7
Afghanistan: 94 all out
Result: India won by 127 runs.
India vs Afghanistan Series Result
India won the series 3-0.
India vs Afghanistan Series: Abhishek Sharma Finishes as Player of the Series
Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer across the India vs Afghanistan series.
His scores were:
- 82 runs – 1st T20I
- 39 runs – 2nd T20I
- 108 runs – 3rd T20I
That gave him a total of 229 runs across three matches.
His series average was 76.33, while his strike rate was an extraordinary 269.41. He also hit 22 sixes during the series.
The BCCI confirmed that Abhishek received the Player of the Series award.
India vs Afghanistan Series: Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Bowling Performance
Nitish Kumar Reddy also made a significant contribution during the India vs Afghanistan series.
He finished as India’s leading wicket-taker in the series with six wickets.
His biggest contribution came in the second T20I when he took 3/24.
He also took three wickets in the final match as Afghanistan collapsed to 94.
India vs Afghanistan: What Happened to Rashid Khan?
Rashid Khan remained one of Afghanistan’s most important players during the India vs Afghanistan series.
In the second T20I, Rashid produced an individual contribution with both bat and ball.
He scored 28 runs from 16 balls and later took 3 wickets for 36 runs.
However, India’s batting depth allowed the hosts to complete the chase despite Rashid’s three wickets.
India vs Afghanistan: What Happened in the Final Match?
The final India vs Afghanistan T20I was effectively decided by India’s batting performance.
India reached 221/7, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 108 from 34 balls.
Afghanistan’s chase never developed into a serious contest as wickets fell regularly.
Afghanistan were dismissed for 94 in 14.1 overs, resulting in India’s biggest victory of the series — 127 runs.
India vs Afghanistan: Series Statistics
Some of the important India vs Afghanistan series statistics are:
Series: Friendship Cup 2026
Format: T20 International
Matches: 3
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Series result: India won 3-0
India’s biggest individual score:
Abhishek Sharma – 108
Series leading run-scorer:
Abhishek Sharma – 229 runs
Series leading Indian wicket-taker:
Nitish Kumar Reddy – 6 wickets
Fastest Indian T20I century:
Abhishek Sharma – 30 balls
Third-match margin:
India won by 127 runs.
India vs Afghanistan: Why Abhishek Sharma’s Innings Is Significant
The significance of Abhishek Sharma’s performance in the India vs Afghanistan series goes beyond the final score.
His 30-ball century became the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter.
The BCCI reported that the innings also represented the fastest T20I century by a batter against a Test-playing nation and the third-fastest overall in men’s T20I cricket.
His 108 included 11 sixes, demonstrating India’s aggressive approach during the Powerplay and middle overs.
India vs Afghanistan: India’s Next Cricket Focus
Following the India vs Afghanistan series, the Indian men’s team moved into the Asian Games phase of the 2026 cricket calendar.
The BCCI stated after the series that India would travel to Japan for a historic one-off T20I against the host nation before the Asian Games.
The recent Afghanistan series therefore served as part of India’s preparation for the upcoming Asian Games campaign.
India vs Afghanistan: Current Status as of September 2026
As of 26 September 2026, the latest bilateral India vs Afghanistan T20I series has already concluded.
The final position is:
India – Series Winner, 3-0
There is no fourth match in the September Friendship Cup series.
The most recent bilateral meeting was the third T20I on 17 September 2026, when India defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs.
India vs Afghanistan: Frequently Asked Questions
India vs Afghanistan: Who won the 2026 T20I series?
India won the three-match India vs Afghanistan T20I series by 3-0.
India vs Afghanistan: Who won the third T20I?
India won the third India vs Afghanistan T20I by 127 runs.
India vs Afghanistan: How many runs did Abhishek Sharma score?
Abhishek Sharma scored 108 runs from 34 balls in the third T20I.
India vs Afghanistan: How many balls did Abhishek Sharma take for his century?
Abhishek Sharma reached his century in 30 balls.
India vs Afghanistan: Who was Player of the Series?
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Series, finishing with 229 runs.
India vs Afghanistan: Who scored the fastest Indian T20I century?
Abhishek Sharma set the record with a 30-ball century against Afghanistan.
India vs Afghanistan: Who won the first T20I?
India won the first T20I by seven wickets.
India vs Afghanistan: Who won the second T20I?
India won the second T20I by seven wickets, chasing 160 in 14.5 overs.
India vs Afghanistan: Where were all three matches played?
All three matches were played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
India vs Afghanistan: Final Summary
The latest India vs Afghanistan T20I series ended with a comprehensive 3-0 victory for India.
The first two matches were won by seven wickets, while India produced its biggest performance of the series in the third match, winning by 127 runs.
The defining moment was Abhishek Sharma’s 108 from 34 balls, including a record-breaking 30-ball century. He finished the series with 229 runs and was named Player of the Series.
For Afghanistan, the series provided competitive opportunities against India’s T20 setup, while players such as Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai produced notable individual performances.
Latest verified update: India completed the three-match series with a 3-0 sweep on 17 September 2026. As of 26 September, that remains the latest completed bilateral India-Afghanistan T20I series.