New Delhi: An explosive half-century by opener Abhishek Sharma and a three-wicket haul from fast bowler Arshdeep Singh powered India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the first T20 International at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, placing the hosts 1-0 up in the three-match series.

India elected to field first and restricted Afghanistan to 156-8, despite a fighting unbeaten 64 from Azmatullah Omarzai. Arshdeep Singh delivered a standout performance with the ball, returning figures of 3-19.

In reply, India chased down the target in just 13.4 overs, largely driven by an entertaining 121-run second-wicket partnership between Abhishek (82 off 32 balls, featuring seven fours and seven sixes) and Ishan Kishan (42 off 33 balls).

ALSO READ: Guests in their own home: Why Afghanistan is 'hosting' India in Delhi

The hosts began the chase with Sanju Samson striking Fazalhaq Farooqi through midwicket for four off the second ball of the innings, followed by another boundary off Mujeeb ur Rahman in the second over. However, Samson fell in the third over for 10 off eight balls, miscuing a delivery from Omarzai to Darwish Rasooli at deep square leg with India at 18-1.

Abhishek responded immediately, dispatching Omarzai for a six and a four in the same over. During the innings, he passed 6,000 T20 runs, becoming the second-fastest player to reach the milestone in terms of balls faced (3,420 balls), behind only New Zealand's Finn Allen (3,386 balls).

Abhishek and Kishan accelerated in Farooqi's fifth over, accumulating 26 runs through two boundaries and two sixes each to take India past the 50-run mark in 4.2 overs. The pair then struck three consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Nabi in the sixth over, completing a 50-run partnership off just 17 balls.

Abhishek brought up his 12th T20I half-century off 22 balls in the ninth over before striking leg-spinner Rashid Khan for a four and a six. India reached 100 in 8.2 overs, and the pair brought up their century partnership off 43 balls during the 10th over against Noor Ahmad.

By the halfway stage, India stood at 130-1. Nabi eventually broke the 121-run stand in the 11th over when Abhishek was caught by Rashid Khan for 82, leaving India at 139-2. Nabi and Rashid combined again to remove Kishan for 42 in the 13th over with the score at 152-3.

ALSO READ: Why Vande Mataram was played before Jana Gana Mana during Ind vs Afg T20

India completed the run chase without further loss, finishing at 157-3 in 13.4 overs, with captain Shreyas Iyer (8 not out) and Tilak Varma (3 not out) at the crease.

Earlier, Afghanistan recovered from a top-order collapse to post 156-8 after being put in to bat. Jasprit Bumrah, returning to T20I action for the first time since IPL 2026, struck in the opening over to dismiss opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck.

Afghanistan fell to 41-4 within the powerplay as Ibrahim Zadran was run out for 11 following a throw by Kishan, Arshdeep removed Sediqullah Atal (13) to a catch at short third man, and Axar Patel dismissed Gulbadin Naib (2). Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy then bowled Darwish Rasooli (2) in the seventh over to leave the visitors at 43-5.

Omarzai and Nabi mounted a recovery, constructing an 83-run partnership for the sixth wicket. The pair added 17 runs off Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 15th over and 16 off Axar Patel in the 16th, before Arshdeep returned to remove Nabi for 33 off 27 balls.

Bumrah conceded just three runs in the 18th over to finish with figures of 1-26 from his four overs. Arshdeep then struck twice in the penultimate over, removing Rashid Khan (1) and Noor Ahmad (0), while Omarzai completed his half-century at the other end.

Omarzai and Mujeeb ur Rahman added 21 runs off the final over bowled by Shivam Dube. Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 off 44 balls, containing four boundaries and four sixes.

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan: 156-8 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 64*, Mohammed Nabi 33; Arshdeep Singh 3-19, Varun Chakaravarthy 1-16, Jasprit Bumrah 1-26, Axar Patel 1-27).

India: 157-3 in 13.4 overs (Abhishek Sharma 82, Ishan Kishan 42; Mohammad Nabi 2-28, Azmatullah Omarzai 1-25).

India won by seven wickets.

ANI