India delivered a dominant display against Afghanistan in what was technically a home fixture for the visitors, wrapping up the chase of 157 in a mere 13.4 overs. The result was rarely in doubt once Jasprit Bumrah struck in the opening over, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a delivery that jagged back sharply and found the slip fielder.
Bumrah, appearing trimmer following his injury layoff, began with a flurry of wides before settling into a rhythm that cost nothing from the bat. Support came from Varun Chakravarthy, also returning from a fitness break, who cleaned up Darwish Rasooli with a sharp, well directed delivery. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel added further breakthroughs, with Nitish Kumar Reddy pulling off a stunning running catch at cover to remove Gulbadin Naib. Afghanistan slipped to 43 for 5 inside seven overs after Ibrahim Zadran, the new skipper, was run out following a promising opening stand with Sediqullah Atal.
Azmatullah Omarzai salvaged respectability with a fighting half century, punishing Shivam Dube for 21 runs in the twentieth over after India’s part time bowlers, Axar, Reddy and Shreyas Iyer, had kept things relatively tidy earlier.
Chasing 157, Sanju Samson departed early after a couple of boundaries, but Abhishek Sharma ensured the target was never in question. Coming off a lean patch across his previous six innings, he launched into the Afghan attack with sixes cleared to almost every corner of the ground, finishing unbeaten on 82 from just 32 deliveries. Ishan Kishan played a supporting role, contributing 42 off 33 balls in a 121 run stand, before falling to one of two superb catches taken by an otherwise wicketless Rashid Khan.
