Table of Contents
Top Headlines
- India face Afghanistan in the third and final T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on September 17, 2026.
- India have already secured the three-match series 2-0 after winning both opening matches by seven wickets.
- Abhishek Sharma smashed a record 30-ball T20I century in the third match, the fastest century by an Indian batter in men’s T20Is.
- India posted 221/7 after Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl first in the final T20I.
- Sanju Samson scored another half-century, adding to India’s strong batting performance in the series.
- Yash Thakur replaced Arshdeep Singh in India’s playing XI for the third T20I.
- The series is also serving as an important preparation opportunity ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
India National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan News Today
The India national cricket team is taking on Afghanistan in the third and final T20I of the 2026 series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 17. India entered the match with an unassailable 2-0 lead, having won both previous games by seven wickets.
The first two matches followed a similar pattern. India restricted Afghanistan to manageable totals before completing comfortable chases. In the second T20I, Afghanistan made 159/8, with India reaching 163/3 in only 14.5 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy took three wickets, while Sanju Samson produced a rapid 57 from 22 balls.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Latest Update
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the final match. India made one change, bringing Yash Thakur into the XI for Arshdeep Singh. The Indian lineup included Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah.
India then produced an extraordinary batting display. Abhishek Sharma scored 108 runs from 34 balls, including a century from only 30 deliveries. The innings made him the fastest Indian to score a T20I century and placed him third overall on the list of fastest T20I hundreds.
Abhishek Sharma Creates T20I Record
Abhishek Sharma’s performance became the headline moment of the final T20I. He reached his fifty from 16 balls before accelerating further, completing his century in just 30 deliveries. His innings included nine fours and 11 sixes.
Abhishek had already made important contributions earlier in the series, scoring 82 in the opening match and 39 in the second. His explosive batting has been one of the major features of India’s dominant performance against Afghanistan.
Sanju Samson and India’s Batting Strength
Sanju Samson also continued his improved form against Afghanistan. After making 57 from 22 balls in the second T20I, he scored another fifty in the final match and formed a powerful opening partnership with Abhishek. India reached 100 runs inside the first six overs, highlighting the aggressive approach of the opening pair.
With players such as Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel also available, India have considerable batting depth heading into the final stages of the series.
Afghanistan’s Challenge
Afghanistan entered the final T20I looking to finish the series with a strong performance after losing the first two games. Captain Ibrahim Zadran previously acknowledged that the team needed greater batting intent and improved execution to turn totals around 150–160 into competitive 200-plus scores.
Afghanistan’s squad features experienced players including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi, giving the side significant international experience.
Series Importance for India
Although India had already secured the series, the third T20I provided an opportunity to test squad depth and give match practice to players who had not featured earlier. The series is also part of India’s preparation for the Asian Games 2026, where India are defending champions in men’s cricket.
The three-match series was scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17, with all games played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi
