Afghanistan Left With Hard Lessons After India Complete 3–0 T20I Sweep

Afghanistan came into this series hoping to test themselves against one of the strongest T20 teams in the world.

Three games later, they are leaving Delhi with plenty to think about.

India completed the 3–0 sweep on Thursday after winning the final T20I by a huge 127 runs. It was the toughest night of the series for Afghanistan, and once India’s batting got going, there really wasn’t much room to recover.

Abhishek Sharma was the difference.

He attacked almost from the beginning and reached his hundred from only 30 balls, the fastest T20I century ever by an Indian. He eventually finished with 108 from 34 deliveries, including 11 sixes. Sanju Samson also contributed 50 as India finished on 221 for seven.

For Afghanistan, chasing 222 was always going to be difficult.

The innings never really settled. Wickets kept falling, the required rate kept climbing, and Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets each for India.

The scoreline hurts, but Afghanistan don’t have much time to sit on it.

Their next major assignment is already approaching. Afghanistan begin their Asian Games men’s cricket campaign against Japan on September 24, before facing Nepal on September 25.

There was also a nice moment after the final T20I. India captain Shreyas Iyer invited Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran to join India’s winning team photograph with the Friendship Cup, ending a competitive series with a show of respect between the two teams.

For Afghanistan, though, the bigger job starts now: take the lessons from Delhi, reset quickly, and be ready for the Asian Games.