India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: Abhishek Sharma’s Record 108 Powers India to 127-Run Win, 3-0 Series Sweep
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: India completed a commanding 3-0 T20I series sweep over Afghanistan after defeating them by 127 runs in the third and final T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on September 17, 2026.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The match will be remembered primarily for one extraordinary batting performance.
Abhishek Sharma smashed 108 off just 34 balls, including 9 fours and 11 sixes, after reaching his century in only 30 deliveries. It was the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter and the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation.
His breathtaking assault, combined with a record-breaking opening partnership with Sanju Samson, carried India to 221/7 after Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field.
India then produced an equally ruthless bowling performance.
Afghanistan were bowled out for just 94 in 14.1 overs, giving India a 127-run victory and their third consecutive win in the series.
The result completed India’s clean sweep after seven-wicket victories in both the first and second T20Is.
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India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026 – Match Summary
| Details | Result |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I |
| Date | September 17, 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Toss | Afghanistan won and elected to field |
| India | 221/7 (20 overs) |
| Afghanistan | 94 all out (14.1 overs) |
| Result | India won by 127 runs |
| Series Result | India won 3-0 |
| Player of the Match | Abhishek Sharma |
| Player of the Series | Abhishek Sharma |
Abhishek Sharma Turns the Final Into a Record Book
The third T20I began with Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran choosing to bowl after winning the toss.
It quickly became clear that the decision had handed the initiative to India’s most destructive batter.
Abhishek Sharma came out attacking from the very first overs.
There was no period of settling in.
No cautious powerplay.
No waiting for the bowlers to make mistakes.
Abhishek attacked almost every length Afghanistan offered.
At the other end, Sanju Samson provided aggressive support, and together the opening pair completely overwhelmed Afghanistan’s bowling attack.
India reached 100 without loss after six overs, setting a new record for India’s highest T20I powerplay score.
100 Runs in Six Overs: India Rewrite Their Own Powerplay Record
India’s opening six overs were extraordinary.
The scoreboard read:
IND 100/0 after 6 overs
It became India’s highest-ever powerplay score in men’s T20I cricket.
Abhishek was responsible for a remarkable 76 runs from 22 balls during the powerplay, while Samson supplied the other end with aggressive Strokeplay.
The previous Indian powerplay benchmark was 95/1 against England in Mumbai in 2025.
India had now gone beyond that mark without losing a wicket.
The opening partnership also crossed the 100-run mark in only 36 balls.
Abhishek Sharma’s 16-Ball Fifty
Abhishek reached his half-century in just 16 balls.
It was another astonishing milestone in a career that has increasingly become associated with extreme powerplay hitting.
His fifty was built almost entirely through boundaries, and Afghanistan’s bowlers had no real opportunity to settle into a rhythm.
But the fifty was only the beginning.
Abhishek continued attacking after reaching the milestone.
The scoreboard accelerated at a remarkable rate.
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30-Ball Century: A New Indian T20I Record
Abhishek Sharma reached his century in just 30 balls.
That broke Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of a 35-ball T20I century, set against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017.
It also moved Abhishek past the previous 33-ball record shared by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and New Zealand’s Finn Allen among batters from Test-playing nations.
His 30-ball century became:
- Fastest T20I century by an Indian batter
- Fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing/Full Member nation
- Third-fastest men’s T20I century overall
Only Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan and Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad have recorded faster T20I hundreds overall, both for Associate nations.
Abhishek’s century therefore sits at the top of the list when the comparison is restricted to Test-playing nations.
The Numbers Behind Abhishek Sharma’s 108
Abhishek eventually departed for:
108 runs from 34 balls
His innings contained:
- 9 fours
- 11 sixes
- Strike rate: 317.65
- Century: 30 balls
- Fifty: 16 balls
A remarkable 102 of his 108 runs came in boundaries.
That means only six runs came from running between the wickets.
His innings was therefore almost entirely built on clean boundary hitting.
Rashid Khan eventually ended the assault, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz completing the catch behind the stumps.
Abhishek walked away after producing one of the most explosive innings ever seen in men’s T20I cricket.
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson Add 142
While Abhishek was responsible for most of the fireworks, Sanju Samson played an important supporting role.
The pair added:
142 runs for the first wicket
The partnership came from only 59 balls.
Samson eventually completed his second consecutive half-century of the series, scoring:
50 off 35 balls
His innings included:
- 2 fours
- 4 sixes
- Strike rate: 142.86
The partnership was the foundation of India’s massive total.
India were already 142/1 after 9.5 overs when Abhishek departed.
At that point, Afghanistan had already been pushed deep into defensive territory.
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Sanju Samson Crosses 9,000 T20 Runs
The final also produced an important milestone for Sanju Samson.
During his innings, Samson crossed the 9,000-run mark in T20 cricket.
His second consecutive half-century therefore added another significant career milestone to an already memorable match.
Samson’s contribution was particularly valuable because Abhishek’s extraordinary scoring rate could easily have made the innings one-dimensional.
Instead, Samson kept the scoreboard moving rapidly from the other end.
Afghanistan Finally Find a Way Back
After Abhishek’s dismissal at 142/1, Afghanistan finally managed to create some pressure.
The Indian middle order could not maintain the extraordinary scoring rate of the opening partnership.
Tilak Varma was run out for 2, while Sanju Samson fell for 50.
Shivam Dube made 14 before becoming another victim of Azmatullah Omarzai.
Ishan Kishan was run out for 10, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and captain Shreyas Iyer also departed late.
Afghanistan’s bowlers therefore managed to prevent India from reaching an even larger total.
India scored only 79 runs in the final 10 overs after their opening pair had dominated the first half of the innings.
Nevertheless, the damage had already been done.
India finished on:
221/7 in 20 overs
India 221/7: Second-Highest T20I Total Against Afghanistan
India’s 221/7 was not just a huge score; it also entered Afghanistan’s T20I record books.
It became the second-highest team total against Afghanistan in men’s T20Is.
Ireland’s 225/7 in Abu Dhabi in 2013 remains the highest.
India’s 221 also became their fourth 200-plus total against Afghanistan in the format.
Afghanistan’s Chase Begins Under Pressure
Afghanistan needed 222 runs to win.
That required a run rate of 11.10 runs per over from the beginning.
India’s bowlers, however, immediately made the task even more difficult.
Axar Patel struck twice in his first over, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal.
Afghanistan suddenly found themselves under enormous pressure.
The early wickets meant that Ibrahim Zadran and the middle order had to rebuild rather than attack freely.
Afghanistan Collapse to 94 All Out
The collapse continued throughout the innings.
Afghanistan lost wickets regularly and never established a meaningful partnership.
Ibrahim Zadran was their top scorer with 25 off 16 balls, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 15.
No other Afghan batter could provide the sustained resistance required against India’s attack.
Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for:
94 in 14.1 overs
India therefore won by:
127 runs
It was Afghanistan’s heaviest defeat by runs in men’s T20I cricket.
Their 94 was also their lowest T20I total against India, replacing their previous low of 111/8 from the 2022 Asia Cup.
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Nitish Kumar Reddy Produces Another Three-Wicket Haul
After taking 3/24 in the second T20I, Nitish Kumar Reddy again produced a three-wicket performance.
He finished with:
3/25 in 4 overs
His three wickets helped India maintain control through the middle and closing stages.
It also meant Nitish had taken six wickets across the final two matches of the series.
He finished the series with six wickets, the joint-highest tally for India in the three-match contest alongside the leading bowlers according to the series statistics.
Ravi Bishnoi Finishes Afghanistan’s Resistance
Ravi Bishnoi also took three wickets.
His final figures:
3/26 in 3.1 overs
Bishnoi was responsible for closing out the innings and took the final Afghanistan wicket.
The combination of Nitish and Bishnoi gave India six wickets between them.
Axar Patel’s Brilliant Spell
Axar Patel’s contribution was perhaps less spectacular statistically but extremely important tactically.
He returned:
2/9 in 3 overs
His first-over double strike immediately disrupted Afghanistan’s chase.
Axar’s economy rate of just 3.00 was among India’s most effective spells of the evening.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: India’s Bowling Card
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 4 | 25 | 3 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 3.1 | 26 | 3 |
| Axar Patel | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| Yash Thakur | 2 | 17 | 1 |
India’s attack worked collectively rather than relying on one bowler.
Major Records From India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026
1. Fastest T20I Century by an Indian
Abhishek’s century came in 30 balls, beating Rohit Sharma’s previous Indian record of 35 balls.
2. Fastest T20I Century by a Test-Playing Nation Batter
The 30-ball hundred also surpassed the 33-ball centuries of Finn Allen and Sikandar Raza.
3. Third-Fastest T20I Century Overall
Only Sahil Chauhan and Muhammad Fahad have recorded faster T20I centuries.
4. India’s Highest T20I Powerplay Score
India reached 100/0 after six overs, their highest-ever powerplay total in men’s T20Is.
5. Abhishek’s 76 in the Powerplay
Abhishek scored 76 from 22 balls during the first six overs, setting the highest individual powerplay score in a men’s T20I innings.
6. Abhishek’s Sixth T20I Fifty in 20 Balls or Fewer
His 16-ball fifty was the sixth time he had reached fifty in 20 balls or fewer in men’s T20Is.
That extended his record in this category.
7. Abhishek Equals Virat Kohli’s T20 Century Tally
The 108 was Abhishek’s 10th century in T20 cricket, bringing him level with Virat Kohli’s tally of ten T20 hundreds.
8. 22 Sixes in the Series
Abhishek hit 22 sixes across the three-match series, equalling his own Indian record for most sixes in a T20I series.
9. Afghanistan’s Lowest T20I Score Against India
Afghanistan’s 94 all out became their lowest total against India in men’s T20Is.
10. Afghanistan’s Biggest T20I Defeat
The 127-run defeat became Afghanistan’s largest defeat by runs in men’s T20I cricket.
11. India’s Tenth 100-Plus T20I Victory
The victory was India’s 10th win by 100 or more runs in men’s T20Is, putting them level with Canada for the most such victories.
12. Second-Highest Total Against Afghanistan
India’s 221/7 became the second-highest T20I total against Afghanistan, behind Ireland’s 225/7.
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Abhishek Sharma’s Extraordinary Series
The third match was not an isolated performance.
Abhishek had already made a huge impact in the first two games.
1st T20I
82 off 32 balls
2nd T20I
39 off 19 balls
3rd T20I
108 off 34 balls
Series Total
229 runs
Series Average
76.33
Series Strike Rate
269.41
Sixes
22
The consistency of his aggression was one of the defining features of India’s 3-0 series victory.
Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma
There was little doubt about the Player of the Match award.
Abhishek Sharma’s 108 off 34 balls was the innings that defined the match.
The 30-ball century alone would have been enough to make the evening historic.
But the broader context made the performance even more significant.
India were already 2-0 up.
The series was already won.
Yet Abhishek played with the same aggressive intent and helped India establish a total of 221/7.
His performance earned him both:
Player of the Match
and
Player of the Series
Player of the Series: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek finished the three-match series as the leading run-scorer with:
229 runs at 76.33
and a remarkable strike rate of:
269.41
His three innings were:
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| 1st T20I | 82 (32) |
| 2nd T20I | 39 (19) |
| 3rd T20I | 108 (34) |
| Series Total | 229 |
The final performance transformed an already strong series into one of the most memorable individual T20I campaigns of his career.
India Complete a 3-0 Clean Sweep
India entered the series as favourites on paper, but the manner of the victories was particularly emphatic.
1st T20I
India won by 7 wickets
2nd T20I
India won by 7 wickets
3rd T20I
India won by 127 runs
India therefore completed a:
3-0 T20I series sweep
The three victories also showed India’s ability to win in different ways.
The first two matches were successful run chases.
The final was won through explosive batting followed by dominant bowling.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: Match Turning Points
Turning Point 1: India’s First Six Overs
The moment India reached 100/0 after six overs, the match tilted heavily in their favour.
Afghanistan were already facing an enormous total challenge.
Turning Point 2: Abhishek’s 30-Ball Century
The century turned a dominant start into a record-breaking innings.
Turning Point 3: Afghanistan’s Early Collapse
Axar Patel’s two wickets in his first over immediately put Afghanistan behind the required rate.
Turning Point 4: Nitish Reddy’s Double Strike
Nitish’s wickets prevented Afghanistan from building a partnership during the middle overs.
Turning Point 5: Bishnoi Closes the Door
Ravi Bishnoi’s three wickets completed the collapse and ended the match in the 15th over.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026 – Best Performers
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 108 (34) |
| Sanju Samson | 50 (35) |
| Shreyas Iyer | 29 (20) |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 25 (16) |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 3/25 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 3/26 |
| Axar Patel | 2/9 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 1/16 |
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: Full Scorecard Summary
India – 221/7 (20 Overs)
Abhishek Sharma: 108 (34)
Sanju Samson: 50 (35)
Shreyas Iyer: 29 (20)
Shivam Dube: 14 (10)
Ishan Kishan: 10 (8)
Tilak Varma: 2 (5)
Nitish Kumar Reddy: 1 (4)
Axar Patel: 5* (4)
Ravi Bishnoi: 0*
Best Afghanistan Bowlers:
Azmatullah Omarzai: 2/27
Rashid Khan: 1/43
Abdollah Ahmadzai: 1/38
Afghanistan – 94 All Out (14.1 Overs)
Ibrahim Zadran: 25 (16)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 15 (11)
Noor Rahman: 11 (15)
Mohammad Nabi: 8 (9)
Rashid Khan: 6 (5)
India Bowling:
Nitish Kumar Reddy: 3/25
Ravi Bishnoi: 3/26
Axar Patel: 2/9
Jasprit Bumrah: 1/16
Yash Thakur: 1/17
India vs Afghanistan 2026 T20I Series: Final Statistics
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Most Runs | Abhishek Sharma | 229 |
| Best Average | Abhishek Sharma | 76.33 |
| Highest Strike Rate among major scorers | Abhishek Sharma | 269.41 |
| Most Sixes | Abhishek Sharma | 22 |
| Top Afghanistan Run-Scorer | Azmatullah Omarzai | 92 |
| India’s Leading Wicket-Taker | Nitish Kumar Reddy | 6 |
| Player of the Series | Abhishek Sharma | — |
What This Series Means for India
India’s 3-0 victory was not simply about winning the series.
It also highlighted the depth and aggression of their current T20 batting approach.
Abhishek Sharma repeatedly attacked the powerplay.
Sanju Samson responded with back-to-back fifties in the final two games.
Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed with the ball.
Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel controlled the middle overs.
And India’s pace attack provided the early pressure required to prevent Afghanistan from building competitive totals.
The final match brought all of those elements together.
Afghanistan’s Takeaways
Afghanistan will have plenty to reflect on after the 3-0 defeat.
Their batting struggled in all three matches.
They scored:
156/8 in the first T20I
159/8 in the second T20I
94 all out in the third T20I
The third match was particularly damaging because their chase collapsed before the halfway point.
The positive for Afghanistan was the occasional individual contribution from players such as Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran and Rashid Khan.
But the team could not sustain partnerships against India’s bowling attack.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: Final Verdict
India finished the Afghanistan T20I series in spectacular fashion.
After two seven-wicket victories, the third match produced something completely different: a 127-run demolition.
The evening belonged to Abhishek Sharma.
His 108 off 34 balls, including a 30-ball century, broke India’s fastest T20I century record and established a new benchmark for batters from Test-playing nations.
His partnership with Sanju Samson produced 142 runs, while India’s 100/0 powerplay became their highest ever in men’s T20I cricket.
Afghanistan’s response never got going.
Axar Patel struck twice early, Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed three wickets, Ravi Bishnoi took three more and Afghanistan collapsed to 94 all out.
India won by 127 runs, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
For Abhishek, the night ended with both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
For India, it was the perfect conclusion to a dominant bilateral T20I series.
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India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I 2026: Quick Facts
Winner: India
Margin: 127 runs
India: 221/7
Afghanistan: 94 all out
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Toss: Afghanistan won and elected to field
Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma
Player of the Series: Abhishek Sharma
Top Score: Abhishek Sharma – 108
Best Bowling: Nitish Kumar Reddy – 3/25; Ravi Bishnoi – 3/26
Opening Partnership: 142
India Powerplay: 100/0
Series Result: India won 3-0
Fastest Indian T20I Century: Abhishek Sharma – 30 balls
Afghanistan’s Score: 94 – lowest against India in T20Is
Defeat Margin: Afghanistan’s biggest T20I defeat by runs
India vs Afghanistan 2026: Series Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st T20I – Delhi | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2nd T20I – Delhi | India won by 7 wickets |
| 3rd T20I – Delhi | India won by 127 runs |
| Series | India won 3-0 |
BCCI – India’s Afghanistan T20I squad announcement
ICC – Afghanistan vs India T20I series schedule
✍️ About the Author
Fanish Jha
Fanish Jha is a digital publisher, website creator, and content editor focused on creating useful online resources for Indian audiences. He is the founder and editor of Pincode Of India, Jobs.PincodeOfIndia, Indian Swan, and Gaon Express.
His work includes website development, digital publishing, SEO, content research, and managing online platforms across postal information, government resources, e-commerce, and local services.
He aims to make online information clear, useful, accessible, and easy to understand.
Founder & Editor — Fanish Jha
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