Story perspectives

India beats Afghanistan by seven wickets, takes 2-0 series lead

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 3:59 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

India Beats Afghanistan

India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets, securing a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.
India won the toss and elected to bowl first at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Sanju Samson scored 57 off 22 balls, anchoring India’s opening partnership.
Nitish Kumar Reddy took three wickets for 24 runs, the leading bowling figures.
The win gave India an unassailable series lead, with the final T20I scheduled for Thursday.

Summary

Gambhir Starts Sooryavanshi

Samson said he blocks external criticism by focusing on preparation and his team role.
Captain Gautam Gambhir consulted Samson extensively before deciding to start 16-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Samson noted Sooryavanshi’s 700-800 IPL runs drove a “team-first” selection despite Samson’s form.
Kishan said he changed his batting mindset from fearing dismissal to calm ball-watching.
Their spin quartet, featuring Rashid Khan, is valued in global T20 leagues for its unconventional style.

History

Historical Context

India’s five-run victory over Pakistan in the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg sparked Dhoni’s claim that Twenty-20 would become huge in India. The tournament’s earlier group-stage bowl-out, also won 3-0 by India, highlighted the format’s excitement. That breakthrough now underpins today’s youth-focused selections, linking past triumph to current strategy.

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India Beats Afghanistan

India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets, securing a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.
India won the toss and elected to bowl first at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Sanju Samson scored 57 off 22 balls, anchoring India’s opening partnership.
Nitish Kumar Reddy took three wickets for 24 runs, the leading bowling figures.
The win gave India an unassailable series lead, with the final T20I scheduled for Thursday.

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