The India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026 was a three-match T20I contest played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from September 13 to September 17, 2026. India entered the series as the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions, while Afghanistan looked to challenge one of the strongest T20 sides in international cricket.
India dominated the series from start to finish, winning all three matches to complete a 3-0 series sweep. The final game produced the biggest individual performance of the series, with Abhishek Sharma smashing a record-breaking 108 from only 34 balls.
India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026 Schedule
All three matches were played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
| Match | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 | New Delhi | India won by 7 wickets |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 | New Delhi | India won by 7 wickets |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 | New Delhi | India won by 127 runs |
The series was officially scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17.
1st T20I: India Win by Seven Wicket
The opening match took place on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Afghanistan batted first and posted 156/8 in 20 overs. India then produced a comfortable chase, reaching 157/3 in 13.4 overs to win by seven wicke
India’s batting made the difference as the hosts chased the target with plenty of time remaining.
The victory gave India an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
2nd T20I: India Seal the Series
The second T20I was played on September 15, again in New Delhi.
Afghanistan scored 159/8 in 20 overs, setting India a target of 160.
India’s bowlers kept Afghanistan under control before the batting unit completed another successful chase. India reached 163/3 in 14.5 overs, winning by seven wickets.
The result gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Jasprit Bumrah played an important role with the new ball, while India’s batting combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma helped make the chase look straightforward.
3rd T20I: Abhishek Sharma Produces a Record-Breaking Knock
The third and final T20I on September 17 was the most memorable match of the series.
India batted first and produced a huge 221/7 in 20 overs.
Afghanistan were then bowled out for just 94 in 14.1 overs, giving India a massive 127-run victory.
But the biggest story was Abhishek Sharma.
Abhishek Sharma’s 108 Off 34 Balls
Abhishek Sharma destroyed the Afghanistan bowling attack with an extraordinary innings.
He scored:
108 runs from 34 balls
His innings included:
- 9 fours
- 11 sixes
- Strike rate of 317.65
He reached his century from only 30 balls, setting a new record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. It was also the fastest T20I hundred by a batter from a Full Member nation at that point.
His innings ended on 108 when Rashid Khan dismissed him.
Abhishek’s performance earned him Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours. He finished the three-match series with 229 runs.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Series Results
The complete results were:
1st T20I
Afghanistan 156/8
India 157/3
India won by 7 wickets.
2nd T20I
Afghanistan 159/8
India 163/3
India won by 7 wickets.
3rd T20I
India 221/7
Afghanistan 94
India won by 127 runs.
Final Series Result
India won the series 3-0.
Top Performers of the India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma was the standout player of the entire series.
He scored 229 runs across three matches and produced scores of 82, 39 and 108.
His 108 from 34 balls in the final T20I was the defining performance of the series.
His ability to attack from the first ball gave India an explosive start in all three matches.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer led India during the series.
His leadership was particularly important as India continued to build its T20 squad following its T20 World Cup success.
The BCCI named Iyer as India’s captain for the three-match series.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah returned to India’s T20I squad for the Afghanistan series after missing the two-Test series against Sri Lanka following his knee injury.
His return added experience and quality to India’s bowling attack.
In the second T20I, he set the tone with an excellent opening over as India restricted Afghanistan to 159/8.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson was another important part of India’s batting plans.
He was included in the squad alongside Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeping options, while his aggressive batting style suited India’s approach in the shortest format.
Rashid Khan
Afghanistan’s biggest star remained Rashid Khan.
The world-class leg-spinner dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the third T20I, although India’s enormous total meant Afghanistan had little chance of completing the chase.
India Squad for Afghanistan T20I Series 2026
India’s squad for the series was:
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
- Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
- Tilak Varma
- Shivam Dube
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana were subject to fitness clearance when the squad was announced.
Afghanistan Squad and Key Players
Afghanistan entered the series with several experienced T20 players.
Their key names included:
- Rashid Khan
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Gulbadin Naib
- Darwish Rasooli
- Mohammad Nabi
- Noor Ahmad
Rashid Khan remained the centrepiece of the bowling attack, while Afghanistan’s batting depended heavily on Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and other experienced players.
However, India’s bowling attack consistently prevented Afghanistan from building large totals.
Major Records From India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026
The series produced several notable records.
Abhishek Sharma’s 30-Ball Century
Abhishek reached his century in just 30 balls, breaking India’s previous fastest T20I century record.
Abhishek’s 108 Off 34 Balls
His 108 included 11 sixes and nine fours, giving him a strike rate above 317.
India Won 3-0
India completed a clean sweep, winning all three matches.
127-Run Victory
India’s 127-run win in the third T20I was the biggest margin of victory in the series.
Abhishek Named Player of the Series
With 229 runs, Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Series.
What the Series Means for India
The Afghanistan series gave India another opportunity to develop its T20 squad.
India’s dominance demonstrated the depth available in its batting and bowling departments.
The performances of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and other younger players provide India with plenty of options for future T20 assignments.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah was another major positive.
India also continued to develop its leadership group under Shreyas Iyer, with the series providing valuable experience before the next major international T20 competitions.
What the Series Means for Afghanistan
Afghanistan will have several areas to improve after losing all three matches.
Their bowling attack, despite having world-class players such as Rashid Khan, struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting.
Their batting also failed to consistently build partnerships.
However, Afghanistan remain one of the most dangerous teams in T20 cricket because of their spin resources, experienced players and ability to produce match-winning performances.
The series against India will provide valuable lessons for their future international campaigns.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Head-to-Head
India and Afghanistan have developed a competitive cricketing relationship over recent years.
Their T20I matches have often featured strong bowling performances, aggressive batting and close contests.
The 2026 series, however, was heavily dominated by India.
India won all three matches and demonstrated superiority with both bat and ball.
The series also followed India’s 3-0 ODI victory over Afghanistan in June 2026, meaning India completed a clean sweep across both white-ball formats during Afghanistan’s 2026 tour.
Key Takeaways From the India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026
India’s batting depth remains impressive.
India consistently chased targets comfortably and produced 221/7 in the final match.
Abhishek Sharma was the biggest star.
His 229 runs and record-breaking century made him the clear Player of the Series.
India’s bowling attack was highly effective.
Afghanistan never scored more than 159 in the three matches.
Jasprit Bumrah’s return was a major positive.
His presence strengthened India’s bowling unit.
Afghanistan need greater batting consistency.
The team struggled to compete with India’s scoring rate.
Rashid Khan remains crucial.
Afghanistan’s leading spinner continues to be one of their most important match-winning options.
FAQs
Who won the India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026?
India won the three-match T20I series 3-0.
How many matches were played in the series?
Three T20I matches were played between India and Afghanistan.
Where was the India vs Afghanistan T20 series played?
All three matches were played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Who was Player of the Series?
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Series after scoring 229 runs.
Who scored 108 runs for India against Afghanistan?
Abhishek Sharma scored 108 from 34 balls in the third T20I.
How many balls did Abhishek Sharma take to score his century?
He reached his century in just 30 balls.
Who won the third T20I?
India won the third T20I by 127 runs.
What was India’s score in the third T20I?
India scored 221/7 in 20 overs.
What was Afghanistan’s score in the third T20I?
Afghanistan were bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs.
Who was India’s captain?
Shreyas Iyer captained India during the series.
Who hit the fastest T20I century for India in the series?
Abhishek Sharma hit India’s fastest T20I century, reaching 100 from 30 balls.
When was the last India vs Afghanistan T20I series before 2026?
The two teams had last played a bilateral T20I series in January 2024.
Conclusion
The India vs Afghanistan T20 Series 2026 ended with a comprehensive 3-0 series victory for India.
India won the first two matches by seven wickets before producing a dominant 127-run victory in the final T20I.
The biggest highlight was undoubtedly Abhishek Sharma’s 108 from 34 balls. His 30-ball century rewrote India’s T20I record books and earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours.
For India, the series showcased explosive batting, strong bowling depth and several promising T20 options. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will need to improve their batting consistency and find ways to counter India’s aggressive approach.
Overall, the series was another statement from India in T20 cricket and a valuable learning experience for Afghanistan.
