India vs Afghanistan T20I in UK: Shreyas Iyer’s Men Clinch Rain-Affected Thriller
The first T20I between India and Afghanistan, part of the three-match series, was held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on September 13, 2026. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, India secured a convincing 7-wicket victory in a rain-curtailed 25-over match. Afghanistan, led by Ibrahim Zadran, posted a competitive total of 195-3 in 22 overs, thanks to some aggressive batting. However, India chased down the target with ease, reaching the score in just 22 overs, aided by 10 extras (1 leg bye, 8 wides, 1 no-ball). The win gave India a 1-0 lead in the series.nnAfghanistan’s innings was built around a solid performance from their top order, with contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai. The Indian bowling attack, featuring Jasprit Bumrah returning from injury, Arshdeep Singh, and spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel, managed to restrict the flow of runs despite the shortened game. Bumrah’s fitness was a key talking point, but he proved his worth with a disciplined spell. The Afghan spin duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman was expected to challenge the Indian batsmen, but the hosts handled them with maturity.nnIn response, India’s chase was anchored by Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson, who played fluent knocks to keep the required run rate under control. Youngsters like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma also chipped in with valuable contributions. The Indian team, undergoing a transition after their T20 World Cup triumph under Suryakumar Yadav, showed depth and composure. The victory was sealed with 15 balls to spare, highlighting
Shimanta Das 
