Afghanistan post 159/8 in 2nd T20I as Rashid, Nabi rescue late overs
Synopsis
Afghanistan looked set for a sub-130 total when they slipped to 105/6 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium — but Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi had other ideas. Their 48-run assault shifted the game's momentum and pushed Afghanistan to 159/8, giving India a stiff enough chase to keep the second T20I interesting.
Key Takeaways
Afghanistan posted 159/8 in 20 overs in the second T20I against India at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 15 September 2026 .
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a second successive duck in the series, falling to Arshdeep Singh .
Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 37 off 33 balls before Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed him with his first delivery.
Rashid Khan (28 off 16) and Mohammad Nabi (20 off 14) added 48 runs to rescue Afghanistan from 105/6 .
Nitish Kumar Reddy was India's pick of the bowlers with 3/24 ; Arshdeep Singh took 2/35 .
Noor Ahmad hit a six off the last ball to add late gloss to the total.
Afghanistan posted 159/8 in the second T20I against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, recovering from a dangerous 105/6 through a spirited 48-run partnership between Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan before India's bowlers reasserted control in the final overs.
Early Blows Set the Tone
Jasprit Bumrah opened proceedings with a maiden over against Ibrahim Zadran, immediately placing Afghanistan under pressure. Arshdeep Singh then struck in his very first over, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a second successive duck in the series — the right-hander attempting to flat-bat a short-of-length delivery, only to top-edge it to Ravi Bishnoi at mid-on. Afghanistan were reduced to 2/1 inside two overs.
Zadran initially struggled for fluency before finding his stride in the third over, plundering four boundaries off Arshdeep. He and Sediqullah Atal steadied the innings with Afghanistan's most productive powerplay passage, though India's disciplined lines kept the run rate in check. Their 50-run second-wicket stand was eventually broken in the eighth over when Nitish Kumar Reddy, introduced into the attack, struck with his very first delivery — Zadran holing out to Bishnoi at deep mid-wicket for a 33-ball 37, inclusive of six fours.
Mid-Order Collapse Exposes Afghanistan
The dismissal triggered a mini-collapse. Atal fell for 12 in the next over, slicing a Bishnoi googly to Tilak Varma at long-off. Nitish returned to remove Gulbadin Naib for 10 in the 11th over, leaving Afghanistan at a precarious 67/3.
Darwish Rasooli provided a brief jolt of acceleration — launching Shivam Dube for a six and adding another maximum off Axar Patel — while Azmatullah Omarzai chipped in with two fours. But Axar eventually prised out the all-rounder for 11, with Tilak completing a clean catch. Rasooli followed shortly after for a brisk 26 off 15 balls, caught near the boundary by Tilak off Arshdeep, leaving Afghanistan at 105/6 and seemingly destined for a below-par score.
Nabi and Rashid Change the Momentum
Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan refused to capitulate, combining for an aggressive 48-run partnership that reshaped the innings. Rashid was particularly destructive against Arshdeep in the 18th over, collecting two fours and a six to plunder 16 runs from it. Nabi then struck Bumrah for a boundary in the 19th over as both veterans milked the pressure situation for maximum yield.
Bumrah finally ended Nabi's resistance, dismissing him for 20 off 14 balls, caught by Shreyas Iyer at cover. Nitish then produced the decisive blow of the innings, removing Rashid off the first ball of the final over for 28 off 16 deliveries — Axar taking a superb diving catch at deep square leg. A late flourish from Noor Ahmad, who launched Nitish over mid-wicket for six off the final delivery, added gloss to the total as Afghanistan closed on 159/8.
India's Bowling Figures
Nitish Kumar Reddy was India's standout performer with a return of 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh claimed 2/35. Bumrah finished with 1/25 from his full allotment of four overs. The total of 159 is a chase India will start as firm favourites, though the Nabi-Rashid counter-attack ensures Afghanistan are not without hope on a used Feroz Shah Kotla surface.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 159/8 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 37, Rashid Khan 28; Nitish Kumar Reddy 3/24, Arshdeep Singh 2/35) vs India.
Point of View
The innings should have folded well under 140; instead, Rashid and Nabi's muscle memory took them to 159. For India, the more telling story is Bumrah's economy — 1/25 in four overs reflects his suffocating control rather than any failure — and Nitish Kumar Reddy's emergence as a multi-format utility option. The real question heading into the chase is whether 159 on this surface carries enough to test an Indian batting line-up that has misfired in patches this series.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Afghanistan's final score in the 2nd T20I against India?
Afghanistan finished on 159/8 in 20 overs in the second T20I against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on 15 September 2026. The innings was rescued from 105/6 by a 48-run partnership between Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan.
Who were Afghanistan's top scorers in the 2nd T20I?
Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 37 off 33 balls, hitting six fours. Rashid Khan contributed a quickfire 28 off 16 deliveries, while Mohammad Nabi made 20 off 14 balls. Darwish Rasooli also provided acceleration with 26 off 15 balls.
Which Indian bowlers took wickets in the 2nd T20I?
Nitish Kumar Reddy was the pick of India's bowlers with 3/24, removing Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, and Rashid Khan. Arshdeep Singh claimed 2/35, while Jasprit Bumrah finished with 1/25 from four overs. Axar Patel also took a wicket.
What happened to Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the 2nd T20I?
Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck — his second successive duck in the series — in the first over, top-edging an Arshdeep Singh short-of-length delivery to Ravi Bishnoi at mid-on. Afghanistan were left at 2/1 inside two overs.
What target does India need to chase in the 2nd T20I?
India need 160 runs to win the second T20I, chasing Afghanistan's total of 159/8 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. India are strong favourites given their batting depth, though the Rashid-Nabi partnership ensured a competitive finish to the Afghan innings.
