Team India continued their strong run in the Afghanistan T20I series with another commanding seven-wicket victory at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the second game. After restricting Afghanistan to 159/8 in their 20 overs, India produced an explosive chase and reached 163/3 in just 14.5 overs.

Nitish Reddy keeps Afghanistan at bay with sizzling bowling

India won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Afghanistan under pressure from the beginning. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a three-ball duck, while Sediqullah Atal managed 12 from 15 deliveries. Ibrahim Zadran provided stability at the top with 37 runs off 33 balls, including six fours.

Gulbadin Naib added 10 from eight balls before Darwish Rasooli injected momentum into the innings with 26 off just 15 deliveries, hitting one four and two sixes. Azmatullah Omarzai contributed 11 from 10, while Mohammad Nabi scored 20 off 14 with two fours and a six.

Rashid Khan then provided a late boost with an important 28 off 16 balls, striking three fours and one six. Noor Ahmad chipped in with seven from three deliveries, but Afghanistan eventually finished on 159/8.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was India’s standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 24 runs from his three overs. He struck at crucial moments to disrupt Afghanistan’s batting momentum and played a key role in restricting them to a below-par total. Apart from Nitish, Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi took one wicket apiece.

Sanju Samson leads India’s explosive chase

India’s reply began in spectacular fashion as Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson attacked the Afghanistan bowling immediately. Abhishek smashed 39 runs from only 19 deliveries, hitting two fours and four sixes, while Samson produced the innings’ most destructive performance.

Samson raced to 57 from just 22 balls, striking seven fours and four sixes. His aggressive knock gave India a commanding platform during the early stages of the chase. Ishan Kishan then maintained the momentum with 38 from 23 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.

Captain Shreyas Iyer added 11 from 11 balls before Tilak Varma contributed an unbeaten-looking 15 off 14 in the listed scorecard. Afghanistan captain Rashid was the only bowler to make a significant impact, taking three wickets for 36 runs in 3.5 overs.

Despite Rashid’s efforts, Afghanistan could not contain India’s batting assault. The visitors reached 163/3 in 14.5 overs, winning the match by seven wickets with 31 deliveries to spare. Nitish was named Player of the Match for his decisive three-wicket spell, which helped India restrict Afghanistan to a manageable total. The victory also gave India a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India had already won the opening match by seven wickets, and the second consecutive victory means they have now secured the series. Afghanistan will therefore be looking to finish the campaign strongly in the third match.

Also READ: Not Rashid Khan! Vijay Shankar names his favourite Afghanistan cricketer

Here’s how fans reacted:

A bowling performance to cherish ✨

Nitish Kumar Reddy is the Player of the Match for an impressive spell of 3️⃣/24 🙌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/96e4nhbYLf#TeamIndia | #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/LY4aTjLMv2

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 15, 2026

– Sanju Samson scored 57 runs.
– 52 runs came through boundaries.

Total madness from the T20 World Cup hero 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P3Pgl1suNI

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 15, 2026

INDIA BEAT AFGHANISTAN IN THE T20I SERIES. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/aFvC0kH6Xn

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 15, 2026

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s spell of 3/24 was a unique masterclass in striking instantly in the 2nd T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

In an incredible statistical anomaly, he took a wicket on the very first ball of all three overs he bowled. pic.twitter.com/IjY0ZjdrfM

— 🏏Cricket-Soccer⚽ Nostalgiation (@RiteshJ88156274) September 16, 2026

Abhi – 39 runs
Ishan – 38 runs
Nitish – 3 wickets and Man of the match

Risers NATIONAL DUTY Kummss 👌👌🔥#Sunrisers #SRH pic.twitter.com/qoLwWZLeeR

— Yashwanth Reddy (@tzisyash) September 15, 2026

Sanju Samson vs Afghanistan – 2nd T20I

1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 4, 6, 4, 1, 4, 6, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6, W

First 10 balls – 8 runs
Last 12 balls – 49 runs 🤯 pic.twitter.com/whvotD7iKy

— Cric Insights (@TheCricInsights) September 16, 2026

After an amazing knock from Sanju Samson, he made sure debate continues for another few months for the top order of Indian T20 team.

— SarvottamCric (@SarvottamCric) September 16, 2026

Sanju Samson has fifty plus scores against 9 Different teams in T20Is.

– Hundred vs South Africa.
– Hundred vs Bangladesh.
– Fifty vs England.
– Fifty vs New Zealand.
– Fifty vs Afghanistan.
– Fifty vs Ireland.
– Fifty vs Oman.
– Fifty vs West Indies.
– Fifty vs Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/GIVkQsm1WO

— HIMANI 🐥 (@himanii_68) September 16, 2026

Sanju Samson scored 24 runs all by himself in Mohammad Nabi’s over. 🔥💥💥💥

Sanju chetta Mass Batting#sanjusamson

pic.twitter.com/ky3jiXykIs

— PK UMAMAHESH (@PKBeastvijay) September 16, 2026

India beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets! 🇮🇳🔥
Afghanistan posted 159/8 before India chased it down in just 14.5 overs. 🏏#INDvsAFG #TeamIndia #AfghanistanCricket #Cricket #CTB pic.twitter.com/UxoVpE4FQH

— Nauman CTB (@NomiJad00n) September 15, 2026

Also READ: Gulbadin Naib opens up about his special bond with an Indian cricketer