India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I: Sanju Samson, Nitish Reddy Guide India to Series Win in Delhi

Sanju Samson’s 57 and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s three-wicket haul helped India defeat Afghanistan by seven wickets in Delhi, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead.

India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I: Sanju Samson and Nitish Kumar Reddy Power India to Series Victory

India secured another convincing win over Afghanistan in the second T20I in Delhi on Tuesday, defeating the visitors by seven wickets to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson played a key role with a quick 57, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed with the ball, claiming three wickets. India chased down Afghanistan’s target comfortably, reaching the required total with 31 deliveries remaining.

Nitish Kumar Reddy Leads India’s Bowling Attack

India won the toss and opted to bowl first, and the decision paid off early. Afghanistan suffered an immediate setback when opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the second over.

India continued to apply pressure and reduced Afghanistan to 96 for five during the middle stages of the innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as the standout bowler for the hosts, finishing with figures of 3-24.

The Indian bowlers kept Afghanistan from building a major partnership and regularly picked up wickets to restrict the visitors.

Ibrahim Zadran Anchors Afghanistan’s Innings

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran attempted to stabilise the innings after the early wickets. He top-scored for his side with 37 runs from 33 deliveries.

With Afghanistan struggling to accelerate consistently, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan provided an important late boost. Nabi contributed 20 runs, while Rashid struck 28 to help Afghanistan finish on 159 for eight after 20 overs.

Their late contributions gave Afghanistan a competitive total, but India’s strong batting lineup proved capable of chasing it down with ease.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma Provide Explosive Start

India’s chase began aggressively, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma putting together an impressive opening partnership.

The pair added 88 runs from just 38 balls, giving India significant momentum in the early stages of the innings. Samson combined controlled strokeplay with aggressive hitting to put pressure on the Afghan bowlers.

Abhishek Sharma also contributed 39 runs before Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan produced a crucial breakthrough.

Rashid Khan Sparks Afghanistan Comeback

Rashid Khan briefly brought Afghanistan back into the contest by striking in quick succession.

He first removed Abhishek Sharma before dismissing Samson, who had made a valuable 57. Rashid then claimed the wicket of India captain Shreyas Iyer for 11.

The three wickets reduced India to 123 for three and gave Afghanistan a brief opportunity to make the closing stages competitive.

However, India had enough batting depth to recover without significant difficulty.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma Finish the Chase

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma took control after India lost three wickets. The pair remained unbeaten and added 40 runs from only 25 deliveries.

Their partnership ensured there was no late drama in the Indian chase. Kishan eventually completed the victory with a boundary as India reached the target with 31 balls still remaining.

The seven-wicket victory gave India an unassailable 2-0 advantage in the three-match series.

India Continue Dominant Run in the Series

India had also won the opening T20I by seven wickets on Sunday. The consecutive victories have given the hosts complete control of the series ahead of the final match.

Speaking after the second game, India captain Shreyas Iyer said the team had been looking for a comprehensive performance after the opening match and felt the players delivered a good result.

Iyer also highlighted the importance of adapting to different match situations, saying that maintaining balance and embracing changing circumstances are important during a long cricketing journey.

Final T20I to Offer Opportunities to Other Players

The third and final T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played at the same venue on Thursday.

With India already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, Iyer indicated that the final game could provide an opportunity for players who have not featured in the opening two matches.

Giving squad members valuable match time could allow them to become more familiar with the conditions and gain competitive practice before upcoming assignments.

Conclusion

India produced another all-round performance to defeat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20I and clinch the series 2-0. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s three wickets restricted Afghanistan to 159-8, while Sanju Samson’s 57 gave India a strong foundation during the chase.

Although Rashid Khan briefly revived Afghanistan’s hopes with three wickets, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma completed the job comfortably. India will now look to finish the series with another strong performance in Thursday’s final T20I.