India rode on Abhishek Sharma's record-breaking century, coupled with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi's three-fers to bulldoze Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I at the New Delhi's Arun Jaitley stadium. With this India completed their 3-0 series sweep over Afghanistan.
India sweep series with 127-run triumph over Afghanistan in 3rd T20I
India first posted a mammoth total of 221/7, thanks to the fastest T20I century (34-ball 108 balls) amongst full-member nations from Abhishek Sharma. In reply, Afghanistan's batting crumbled under pressure as Ravi Bishnoi (3/26) and Nitish Reddy (3/25) proved to be the wreckers-in-chief for India.
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Nitish-Bishnoi break Afghanistan's back
Afghanistan's pursuit of India's imposing target crumbled early, as the visitors were skittled out for just 94 in 14.1 overs. The heavy 127-run defeat sealed a 3-0 series whitewash for India, capping a tough tour for the Afghan side.
Skipper Ibrahim Zadran offered the primary resistance, top-scoring with a brisk 25 off 16 deliveries that included four boundaries and a six. Minor contributions came from Azmatullah Omarzai (17 off 13) and opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (15 off 11), but none could build the substantial partnership needed for a steep chase.
The top-order collapse began when Gurbaz was removed with 31 runs on the board, triggering a quick succession of wickets. Sediqullah Atal fell shortly after for a solitary run, Darwish Rasooli was dismissed without scoring, and Zadran's exit left the chase in tatters at 47-4.
Afghanistan's lower middle order couldn't stem the collapse. Brief stays from Noor Ahmad (11), Mohammad Nabi (8), and Rashid Khan (6) offered little resistance before the final wicket fell at 94, wrapping up the match well inside the 15th over.
Abhishek Sharma wreaks mayhem with 30-ball century
Earlier, propelled by a record-breaking blitz from Abhishek Sharma, India posted a formidable 221/7 after being put in to bat for the first time in the series. The explosive opener put on a masterclass of clean hitting, clearing the fence 11 times during his 34-ball 108. Reaching his third T20I century in just 30 deliveries, Abhishek broke the record for the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter. He also surpassed New Zealand’s Finn Allen (who hit a 33-ball century against South Africa earlier this year) to register the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member nation against another Test-playing country.
Abhishek's relentless boundary-hitting brought electric energy to the series dead rubber, targeting bowlers straight down the ground or clearing the ropes with lofted inside-out shots. Paired with Sanju Samson, Abhishek spearheaded a powerplay rampage that saw India rocket to 100 for 0 in the opening six overs, their highest ever T20 powerplay score. While Abhishek dominated early, Samson anchored his end smoothly, eventually compiling a 35-ball 50 to mark his second consecutive half-century. With both openers firing on all cylinders, 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looks set to remain on the bench for now.
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Afghanistan’s bowling attack had no answers for the onslaught, whether pace or spin. Fast bowlers Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi were taken apart early, conceding 17 and 23 runs in back-to-back overs. Captain Ibrahim Zadran turned to spin early, but the strategy backfired when veteran Mohammad Nabi was hammered for 29 runs in a single over—a frame that saw Samson hit two straight sixes before Abhishek matched him with two more. Afghanistan missed a key opportunity when Zadran put down Samson at mid-off on 22.
Abhishek raced to his half-century in 14 balls before sealing his historic 30-ball milestone in the ninth over, pulling Abdullah Ahmadzai to reach 99 before taking a quiet single to bring up three figures. He marked the moment with a viral Erling Haaland-style meditation pose to a standing ovation from the Delhi crowd. Despite the early damage, Afghanistan clawed back some control late in the innings, holding India to just 37 runs and taking four wickets across the final five overs to keep the total under 250. However, the monstrous total proved too much for Afghanistan in the end.