The final match of the T20I series between India and Afghanistan was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, September 17.
Abhishek Sharma played a blinder of a knock, as his 30-ball century helped India get to 221/7. Sanju Samson also chipped in with a 35-ball 50. India could have posted a much bigger total but the middle-order batters failed to live up to their expectations.
In reply, Afghanistan got off to a decent start, as the openers added 31 runs in three overs. However, Axar Patel dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal in the fourth over to break the Afghan hearts.
Wickets kept falling in clusters from thereafter. Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy bagged three wickets apiece, while Yash Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with one scalp each.
AFG vs IND: Talking Points
1. Abhishek Sharma stuns Afghanistan with record-breaking knock
Abhishek Sharma brought up the fastest century in T20I cricket by a full-member batter. He got to the three-figure mark in just 30 balls. During his knock of 108 off 34 deliveries, the southpaw smashed nine fours and 11 sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 317.65.
2. Afghanistan pull things back nicely in 1st innings
At the end of the sixth over, India were at 100/0. From overs 7-15, they smashed 84/3. However, the last five overs were forgettable for the Men in Blue as they only managed 37 runs for the loss of four wickets. While India committed hara-kiri, Afghanistan bowlers also deserve credit for excellent execution under pressure.
3. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s bowling form biggest positive for India
Nitish Kumar Reddy finished the series as the leading wicket-taker. In three matches, he picked up six wickets at an economy rate of 8.78. He will look to carry this momentum into the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies.
AFG vs IND: Who Said What?
Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan Captain:
[How do you assess Afghanistan’s performance today?] We improved a little bit in the powerplay. I’m totally happy with the intent. I would say we didn’t contribute well in today’s game. We just gave (away) back-to-back wickets. But we will work on it, and as I mentioned earlier, we have thought about that – how to take the intent forward. Yes, we will struggle for a little bit in one or two series, but I’m pretty sure with the time, we will improve. If we are not going to work and we are not going to have that intent, then it’s really hard to beat the big teams at the international level. [What needs to change for Afghanistan to improve?] It was the first series for us after the T20 World Cup. So we need to play more games, more series, especially against the bigger teams. The more we play, I’m sure we will improve. Yes, we play against Zimbabwe and Ireland, but we have that level (of) skills. But if you want to improve, we should work on ourselves and fitness to level up with the biggest teams; then I’m pretty sure we will give a tough time, and we will beat the big teams all the time. But it will take time. We just need more games in a year.
Shreyas Iyer, India Captain:
[How does this dominating win feel?] I mean, I wouldn’t say bullying, but you would definitely be respectful of the fact that you have come to India and then they were hosting the series. So commendable performance by them as well. It wasn’t an easy wicket, but the way Abhishek played today was flawless, and it was just pleasing to the eye. [The win was even more convincing. That should please you?] Honestly speaking, I knew that I was going to bat today because we had a brief conversation with Ibrahim. He wanted to bowl in the first two games as well. So I had this vision, envisioned that we were going to bat. But yeah, phenomenal start we got, and then obviously just to cream those runs in between to get 220 on the board was commendable. [On Axar Patel’s spell] Yes, absolutely. He’s done it in the past, he’s doing it now, and he’s got immense experience. He knows when the critical situation arrives, and he’s the man to deliver in that position. So he’s been doing it over the years, and I personally feel that he’s someone who has got his head on his shoulders and thinks a lot about his game, and he’s been performing consistently throughout. So kudos to him.
Abhishek Sharma, Player of the Match and Series:
Happy birthday to whoever (someone in the crowd) is there. [130 runs. I mean, how does this happen?] I mean, sir, I’ve told in the first interview as well, because we have been doing this from last two years, and I told this before as well, one or two bad series won’t define us as a batting department, because we wanted to dominate throughout the whole year before the World Cup, and no matter who, against whom we are playing. But I feel as a batter, as a cricketer, sometimes it’s gonna go up and down. But it’s the team dressing room momentum and the way we all think about it. I feel that’s very important, because that’s the time we have to be in one unit and just focus on the next game and just keep on dominating. [There must be something that is going on inside your head while you’re belting the bowlers that you reach such a big score?] I feel it all depends on the process I’ve been doing before every series. It’s just, it’s very particular for me against whom I’m gonna play and who are gonna be the bowlers. So for personally me as a batter, it’s always been about the process: how I’m gonna utilize the power play, who is gonna bowl me the power play, and then the seventh, eighth over. It’s very specific for me.
I feel once you want to play in this certain way, it’s very important that the captain and the coach has to be on your side, because, I mean, you have to get that surety from the management and from the coaches and from the captain as well. So I feel it’s because of them as well we’ve been doing this from, like, quite a few years now, and hopefully we’re gonna continue this as well. [You’re hitting the ball now in various parts of the ground rather than favoring maybe one or two?] I feel it’s, for me, I feel I don’t want to restrict any area. It’s just watch the ball and play according to it. For me it’s very simple, from the day one. I just want to go and express myself, and I don’t want to force the ball. It’s just I just want to see and hit it, and it’s gonna be very simple for me for the upcoming every matches as well. But as I’ve said before as well, you can’t be sure about all the time that you’re gonna be doing really well. But I feel the culture we’ve been developing in our team, it’s just we have to dominate and we have to use the power play, so it’s going really well.
