IND vs AFG: Samson's 57, Reddy's 3-fer power India to 7-wicket win over Afghanistan in 2nd T20I, seal series 2-0

India rode on Sanju Samson's fiery fifty and Nitish Kumar Reddy's three-fer to down Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley stadium on September 15. With this India sealed the three-match series 2-0 with a match to spare.

India seal T20I series against Afghanistan with 7-wicket win

Set a target of 160, India made quick work of the chase, wrapping up a comfortable victory in 14.5 overs thanks to an opening blitzkrieg from Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma (39). The pair tore through the opposition attack to pile up a staggering 82 for 1 within the powerplay. Building on Abhishek’s starring role in the series opener, it was the 31-year-old Samson who took center stage this time, showcasing his full range of strokeplay with seven boundaries and four towering sixes on his way to a record 20-ball half-century.

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Sanju Samson's roaring fifty in India's victory

Afghanistan's decision to deploy spin from both ends at the start backfired almost immediately. Abhishek set the tone by taking Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/37) for consecutive boundaries in the opening over before pulling Mohammad Nabi for a six in the second. As the scoring rate escalated, Samson joined the onslaught with a boundary off Azmatullah Omarzai, while Abhishek launched another maximum off Nabi in the fourth over to keep the momentum surging.

The pressure peaked in the fifth over when Samson targeted Omarzai, collecting 20 runs courtesy of a flicked six off his hips, an exquisite cover drive, and a straight hit over the bowler's head. Nabi’s nightmare spell continued into his next over as both openers combined to milk him for 27 runs, hammering three sixes and two boundaries. Although Rashid Khan (3/36) broke the opening stand in the seventh over by having Abhishek caught near the ropes, the initial damage was already done.

Playing in front of 24,215 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Samson brought up his career-fastest T20I fifty with a boundary before pulling Rashid for another six. Rashid ultimately got his revenge on the final ball of the powerplay when Samson miscued a lofted drive straight to Nabi. Ishan Kishan (38 not out off 23) and captain Shreyas Iyer (11) then steadied the chase. While Iyer struck a crisp six over extra cover, he fell shortly after—juggled and caught at slip by Ibrahim Zadran to give Rashid his third wicket—leaving Kishan to comfortably guide India home.

Nitish Kumar Reddy shines bright with terrific three-fer

Deciding to field first after winning the toss, India’s bowling attack asserted early dominance as Jasprit Bumrah opened with a maiden over, followed immediately by Arshdeep Singh removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for his second consecutive duck of the series. Afghanistan responded through skipper Ibrahim Zadran (37), who took on both Bumrah and Arshdeep with a flurry of boundaries, while Sediqullah Atal (12) added another four to guide the visitors to 41 for one by the end of the powerplay.

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The partnership was eventually broken in the eighth over right after Afghanistan reached their fifty, as Nitish Kumar Reddy struck on his very first delivery to have Zadran caught by Ravi Bishnoi at deep midwicket. Bishnoi then joined the wicket-takers by dismissing Atal, who chipped a catch to Tilak Varma at long-off, leaving Afghanistan in trouble at 59 for three at the halfway mark.

Reddy continued his golden touch by claiming Gulbadin Naib with the first ball of his second over, drawing a top-edge that was safely gathered by Sanju Samson. Despite Bishnoi putting down a chance off Azmatullah Omarzai (11), Axar Patel (2/35) eventually got his man in his final over, while Arshdeep returned to remove Darwish Rasooli thanks to a tumbling running catch from Tilak at long-off.

Reeling at 100 for six, Afghanistan found a late lifeline in Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan, who counter-attacked to push the total toward 150. Nabi targeted Bishnoi with a boundary and a six, while Rashid went after the seamers—taking 16 runs off Arshdeep alone via two fours and a maximum. Bumrah ultimately broke the counter-charge by removing Nabi in the penultimate over, and Reddy dismissed Rashid on the first ball of the 20th, before a final-ball six from Noor Ahmad closed out the innings at 159/8, which proved too less for the Indian side to chase.

Meanwhile, the third T20I will be played at the same venue on September 17.