Abhishek Sharma’s Record Century Seals India Sweep of Afghanistan

Abhishek Sharma blasted a record-breaking 34-ball 108 as India beat Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I in Delhi, completing a 3-0 clean sweep of the series. India made 221 for 7 before Afghanistan were dismissed for 94 in 14.1 overs while chasing 222.

Abhishek’s innings set the match apart from the outset. He reached his century in 30 balls, the fastest T20I hundred against a Full-member team and the third-fastest overall, before finishing with 11 sixes and nine fours. His 108 gave India the momentum needed for a commanding total, even as the scoring rate slowed late in the innings.

The result also underlined Abhishek’s influence across the three-match contest. He was named Player of the Match for his 108 and Player of the Series after scoring 229 runs.

Abhishek and Samson propel India to 221

India’s opening pair raced to 100 in the first six overs, a record powerplay total for the side. Abhishek took only one delivery to settle before launching his attack, beginning with an aerial extra-cover drive off Fazalhaq Farooqi. He continued to strike freely against pace and spin, including two sixes off Azmatullah Omarzai and further boundary hitting against Mohammad Nabi.

Sanju Samson played the supporting role during the opening surge and also contributed heavily. He struck two sixes off Nabi before Abhishek matched him with two of his own to bring up a 16-ball half-century. Rashid Khan was used inside the powerplay, but Abhishek hit two fours and then charged down to strike a six straight, his seventh maximum of the innings as India reached 100.

Abhishek brought up his hundred in the ninth over and was dismissed in the 10th. Samson then took over the scoring, hitting a six with the first ball he faced after his opening partner’s departure. He made 50, with two fours and four sixes, and India were 164 for 2 after 13 overs.

Afghanistan did find some control later in the innings. Rashid dismissed Abhishek with a wrong’un, ran out the promoted Tilak Varma off his own bowling and took a catch at long-off to remove Samson. Although Rashid’s final over cost 17, Afghanistan’s seamers used yorkers with the reversing ball to restrict India to 37 runs across the final five overs. Omarzai finished with 2 for 27.

India’s bowlers complete emphatic win

Afghanistan began their chase with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, but the pursuit quickly became difficult under the required rate. India had changed their new-ball combination, with Arshdeep Singh rested and Yash Thakur coming in, while Nitish Kumar Reddy took the new ball.

Axar Patel made the early breakthroughs in the fourth over, dismissing Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal. Jasprit Bumrah then bowled Darwish Rasooli with a 143kph yorker in the fifth over. When Zadran, Afghanistan’s top scorer with 25, was dismissed to give Thakur his first wicket, the chase had further unraveled.

Reddy accelerated the collapse with three wickets in one over, bowling Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman and having Omarzai caught in the deep off a legcutter. He finished with 3 for 25, while Ravi Bishnoi took 3 for 26. Afghanistan were all out for 94, sealing India’s 127-run victory and the series whitewash.

A record night to close the series

India had already secured the series before the Delhi finale, but the third match delivered their most decisive win. Abhishek’s boundary-heavy century created the platform, Samson’s second successive half-century added depth, and India’s bowlers ensured Afghanistan never approached the target. The 3-0 outcome was completed with a performance led by one of the quickest hundreds in T20I cricket.