New Delhi, September 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India will look to clinch the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan when the teams meet in the second match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.
India lead the series 1-0 after a dominant seven-wicket victory in the opening T20I. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will need a significantly improved performance to keep the series alive.
Afghanistan were reduced to 43/5 inside the Power-play in the first match before Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi put together an 83-run partnership. Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 off 44 balls as Afghanistan recovered to 156/8, but India chased down the target in just 13.4 overs.
Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling attack with 3/9, while Jasprit Bumrah made an immediate impact on his return. Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also took wickets.
Abhishek Sharma then took the game away from Afghanistan with a blistering 82 off 32 balls, including seven fours and seven sixes. Ishan Kishan added 42 as India reached 157/3 comfortably.
Afghanistan’s top order will need to withstand India’s new-ball attack after Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a duck in the opening over of the first T20I. Captain Ibrahim Zadran will look to get greater contributions from his batting unit and support the likes of Omarzai, Nabi and Rashid Khan.
India also have selection decisions to make. Abhishek’s explosive innings has strengthened his case at the top, while Sanju Samson scored only 10 in the opener. Ishan Kishan’s 42 adds further competition for the wicketkeeper-batter’s spot, while teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could again be considered after missing the first match.
India will be without Harshit Rana, who has been ruled out with a rectus femoris strain. Yash Thakur has joined the squad as his replacement.
Afghanistan have several match-winners, including Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq. Ibrahim Zadran, captaining the side in his first series as full-time T20I skipper, will hope his team can convert its individual talent into a disciplined all-round performance.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I: Match Details
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Where to Watch: Live television coverage will be available on Sony Sports Ten 3, 4 and 5 SD & HD channels. Live streaming will be available on the FanCode app and website.
India Squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.
Afghanistan Squad: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq.
A win would give India an unassailable 2-0 series lead, while Afghanistan must win in New Delhi to take the contest into a series decider.
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