Cricket fans love fireworks, but what happened at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 17, 2026, looked more like an explosion. India wrapped up a dominant 3-0 series sweep against Afghanistan with a 127-run victory, but the final match will be remembered for one thing only. Abhishek Sharma tore apart the bowling attack to register a stunning century off just 30 balls.
If you missed the live action, you missed a masterclass in clean hitting. The left-hander launched nine fours and 11 sixes, finishing with 108 runs from 34 deliveries before Rashid Khan finally dismissed him. This wasn't just any regular knock. It stands as the fastest T20 international century ever recorded between full Test-playing nations. Meanwhile, you can explore other events here: Why Lamine Yamal Says He Has Faced Racism A Thousand Times.
Let's look at how the entire three-match series unfolded in Delhi and why the final game exposed glaring issues in Afghanistan's batting lineup.
The Record-Breaking Blitz in New Delhi
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third T20I, hoping early moisture would help their pace attack. That decision backfired spectacularly. Abhishek and Sanju Samson put on an opening partnership of 142 runs in just 10 overs. Samson played the anchor role brilliantly, compiling a fluent 50 off 35 balls, which allowed Abhishek to attack every single bowler from ball one. To understand the complete picture, we recommend the recent analysis by ESPN.
When Abhishek reached 99, he hit a maximum to get close, jogged a single for his hundred, and celebrated with a calm meditation pose on the pitch. His brutal assault demoralized veteran spinners and fast bowlers alike.
India reached a staggering 100 runs in just six powerplay overs. However, once Abhishek departed, the innings lost momentum. The Afghan bowlers fought back admirably in the back half, restricting India to 221/7 after they looked well on course to cross 250. Azmatullah Omarzai picked up key wickets, and Rashid Khan kept things tight, but the damage was already done.
Why Afghanistan Chase Fell Apart Completely
Chasing 222 in a T20 match requires a solid start and partnerships through the middle overs. Afghanistan never got either. They collapsed to 94 all out in 14.1 overs, marking their biggest defeat by runs in the format.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel struck twice in his very first over, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 15 and Sediqullah Atal for a duck. From 15/2, the pressure mounted instantly. The lower-middle order had no answers for the relentless Indian attack.
Nitish Kumar Reddy continued his impressive run of form, bagging 3/25 with his sharp medium-pace bowling. Ravi Bishnoi cleaned up the tail with 3/26, mixing his googlies to bamboozle the remaining batters. Ibrahim Zadran offered some resistance with 25 off 16 balls, but it was far too little against a bowling unit that smelled blood early.
Throughout the series, Afghanistan struggled to post competitive totals when batting first, managing 156/8 in the first T20I and 159/8 in the second match before their dismal 94-run collapse in the finale.
What This Series Means Moving Forward
India leaves this bilateral series with plenty of positives. Shreyas Iyer captained the side effectively, and youngsters like Nitish Kumar Reddy proved they belong at the international level. Abhishek Sharma has firmly stamped his name as one of the most dangerous openers in modern cricket.
For Afghanistan, the lessons are stark. Facing world-class spin and pace on subcontinental tracks exposed technical flaws against the new ball. With the Asian Games in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan starting just days later on September 19, the team needs to reset quickly.
Stop looking for complicated tactical reasons for India's dominance here. Sometimes, a player simply walks out, reads the ball cleanly, and takes the game completely away from the opposition in the space of half an hour.
