57 off 22 balls: Sanju Samson answers critics in style as India crush Afghanistan in 2nd T20I

New Delhi: Sanju Samson struck a blistering 57 off 22 balls to lead India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Tuesday, securing an unassailable lead in the three-match T20 series with a game remaining.

Samson hit four sixes and seven boundaries to register his first half-century since the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, where he was named player of the tournament.

Partnering at the top, Abhishek Sharma smashed 39 off 19 deliveries, including four sixes, as the opening pair compiled an 88-run partnership off just 38 balls.

India reached their target, finishing on 163-3 in 14.5 overs, following an identical seven-wicket win in the opening fixture at the same venue on Sunday.

Afghanistan, acting as the host team under a neutral venue arrangement, posted an under-par total for the second consecutive match after India won the toss and elected to bowl.

All-rounder Nitish Reddy claimed 3-24 from three overs to help restrict Afghanistan to 159-8 in their 20 overs.

Samson and Sharma established a relentless tempo early on, propelling India to 82-0 within the powerplay. Afghanistan deployed spin early compared to the opening match, but failed to stem the run rate.

Rashid Khan entered the attack following the powerplay and achieved a breakthrough in the seventh over, having Sharma caught at deep midwicket.

Samson pressed on to reach his seventh T20 International half-century off 20 balls. Khan then claimed his second wicket of the over as Samson hit out to long-off.

Despite the quick wickets, India reached the 100-run mark in 7.1 overs, tying their second-fastest team century since 2024.

Captain Shreyas Iyer became Khan’s third dismissal, caught at slip, but Ishan Kishan (38 not out) and Tilak Varma (15 not out) comfortably guided India through the remainder of the run chase.

Earlier, after being inserted to bat, Afghanistan suffered another early setback as opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a second successive duck, edging to Arshdeep Singh.

Captain Ibrahim Zadran made 37 off 33 balls to prevent another top-order collapse during the powerplay.

However, the home side collapsed from 59-2 to 100-6 during the middle overs, losing momentum as Reddy struck twice. Afghanistan eventually staged a late recovery through a 48-run stand off 28 balls between Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.

Khan made 28 off 16 balls featuring three boundaries and a six, whilst Nabi contributed 20 off 14 deliveries to close out the innings.

AP