Batting fireworks delight Delhi as India go up 2-0

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions India produced a performance befitting their title, unleashing brilliance with the ball before doubling down with the bat, to secure a seven-wicket win in Delhi.

With this, India have an unassailable 2-0 series lead. The two sides will meet again at the same venue on 17th to finish the series.

Jasprit Bumrah was right on mark beginning the game with a maiden over, before Arshdeep Singh struck in the very next over, dispatching Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) while Afghanistan were not even off the mark. 

India's bowlers continued to pick wickets at regular intervals and despite a feisty 37 from Ibrahim Zadran and a fighting 26 from Darwish Rasooli, Afghanistan were 105/6 at the end of 15 overs.

They had two of their most reliable players in Rashid Khan (28) and Mohammad Nabi (20) on the pitch, and expected the duo to lift them to a competitive total. And Nabi took the right step, hitting a four and a six against Ravi Bishnoi.

To counter the duo, India skipper Shreyas Iyer brought forth his main weapon, Jasprit Bumrah in the 17th over but Afghanistan still managed 10 runs off the over.

As 16 came off the next over, a total of over 160 looked like it was within reach, but a strike from Bumrah in the 19th and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 20th removed the set batters. Still, Noor Ahmad took charge for Afghanistan, and finished the innings for 159/8, ensuring that India needed at least 160 to win the T20I.

Nitish Kumar led the way with a career-best haul of 3/24, while Arshdeep picked 2/35. Bumrah (1/25), Bishnoi (1/32) and Axar Patel (1/28) contributed with a wicket each.

Abhishek Sharma continued to breathe fire with the willow, continuing the same form that had accrued him 82 off 32 in the first T20I of the series. Sanju Samson, coming off a host of low scores, was watchful at the other end, before picking pace in the fifth over with a four followed by a maximum off Azmatullah Omarzai. 

Once he'd regained his nick, Samson looked all set for a big score along with Abhishek at the other end. From 35/0 at the four over mark, India jumped to 82/0 at the end of the powerplay period. 

It took Rashid Khan's action-packed first over to deliver Afghanistan their breakthrough. Abhishek welcomed Rashid with a six before falling while trying to repeat the act. Samson kept going for the big hits at his end, getting to his fifty off merely 20 balls, and then dispatched Rashid for a six. However, off the last ball of the over, Samson too fell to a catch which was taken by Mohammad Nabi.

But their performance meant that, India were already at the 100 run mark by the eighth over, with the required rate under five runs an over.

Ishan Kishan took support from Shreyas Iyer (11) and Tilak Varma (15*) to finish the job by the 15th over, hitting three fours and two sixes in his 38*.

With this India have overcome their recent struggles in the format, that saw them lose back-to-back series in Ireland and England. After sweeping Zimbabwe 3-0, India have a 2-0 lead over Afghanistan, and will be confident as they enter the Asian Games later this month.