Reddy’s middle-overs burst
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s three-wicket spell was the hinge of the match, turning Afghanistan’s steady start into a scramble and setting up a chase India finished with ease. After Afghanistan posted 159/8, India’s top order came out swinging and never let the required rate settle, sealing a 7-wicket win with 31 balls remaining.
Powerplay blitz broke the chase
The game was effectively decided in India’s powerplay: 82/0 at 13.7 an over. That burst meant the target was reduced to a formality before the innings had even reached halfway, and it left Afghanistan needing a flurry of wickets just to create a contest. Even when three wickets fell in the middle overs, India had already banked too much momentum and too few runs were left.
Samson finishes, Rashid fights
Samson’s 57 off 22 (SR 259) was the decisive batting punch, building on Abhishek Sharma’s 39 off 19 in an 88-run opening partnership that set the tone. Ishan Kishan’s 38 off 23 ensured there was no drift after the first wicket. For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan’s 3/36 briefly applied pressure in the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh’s 2/35 supported Reddy, the MVP, in keeping the first-innings total in check.
Afghanistan’s innings lost shape
Afghanistan began with their best stand — 51 between Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran — and reached 41/1 in the powerplay. The middle overs then unravelled: 75/5 in that phase, with wickets repeatedly halting any sustained acceleration. They did recover late with 43/2 at the death, but the earlier slide meant 159 never felt out of reach once India’s openers got away.
AFAfghanistan
156/8
INIndia
157/3
AFAfghanistan
200/4
CACanada
118/8
AFAfghanistan
162/5
UAUnited Arab Emirates
160/9
AFAfghanistan
187/10
SASouth Africa
187/6
AFAfghanistan
182/6
NZNew Zealand
183/5
AFAfghanistan
182/6
WIWest Indies
159/7
AFAfghanistan
184/6
SCScotland
123/10
AFAfghanistan
136/8
WIWest Indies
151/7
AFAfghanistan
189/4
WIWest Indies
150/10
AFAfghanistan
181/3
WIWest Indies
143/9
AF0IN9AFAfghanistan
156/8
INIndia
157/3
AFAfghanistan
134/10
INIndia
181/8
INIndia
212/4
AFAfghanistan
212/6
INIndia
173/4
AFAfghanistan
172/10
INIndia
159/4
AFAfghanistan
158/5
INIndia
212/2
AFAfghanistan
111/8
INIndia
210/2
AFAfghanistan
144/7
INIndia
252/10
AFAfghanistan
252/8
AFAfghanistan
159/10
INIndia
160/2
INIndia
159/5
AFAfghanistan
136/10
AFAfghanistan
156/8
INIndia
157/3
ZIZimbabwe
157/7
INIndia
192/5
ZIZimbabwe
129/10
INIndia
219/5
ZIZimbabwe
125/7
INIndia
126/3
ENEngland
257/3
INIndia
201/8
ENEngland
159/1
INIndia
158/7
ENEngland
201/7
INIndia
76/10
ENEngland
191/6
INIndia
190/7
IRIreland
154/8
INIndia
153/9
IRIreland
182/9
INIndia
148/10