India seal 3-0 T20I series: Abhishek's record century, Reddy & Bishnoi three-fors crush Afghanistan by 127 runs
Synopsis
Abhishek Sharma rewrote the T20I record books with a 30-ball century — the fastest ever by a batter from a Test-playing nation — then Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi shared six wickets to skittle Afghanistan for 94 in a 127-run rout that completed India's clean 3-0 sweep in New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
India beat Afghanistan by 127 runs in the 3rd T20I on 17 September 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi , sealing a 3-0 series whitewash.
Abhishek Sharma struck 108 off 34 balls , reaching his century off just 30 balls — the fastest T20I hundred by a batter from a Test-playing nation, surpassing Rohit Sharma's 35-ball record set in 2017 .
Nitish Kumar Reddy took 3 for 25 — his second successive three-wicket haul — and Ravi Bishnoi claimed 3 for 26 .
Afghanistan were bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs , going four wickets down inside the powerplay to effectively end the chase.
Sanju Samson contributed 50 to India's total of 221 for 7 , while Azmatullah Omarzai top-scored for Afghanistan with 17 .
Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 108 off 34 balls before Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi claimed three wickets apiece as India demolished Afghanistan by 127 runs in the 3rd T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on Thursday, 17 September 2026, completing a dominant 3-0 series whitewash.
Abhishek Sharma's Historic Hundred
Abhishek Sharma reached his T20I century off just 30 balls, making him the new record holder for the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation. He also became the quickest Indian centurion in men's T20 internationals, surpassing Rohit Sharma's landmark 35-ball effort from 2017. His eventual knock of 108 off 34 balls powered India to an imposing 221 for 7 in their 20 overs. Sanju Samson contributed a brisk 50, while Azmatullah Omarzai was the pick of Afghanistan's bowlers with 2 for 27.
Afghanistan's Powerplay Collapse Set the Tone
Chasing 222, Afghanistan started boldly — Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran plundered 15 runs off the opening over bowled by Reddy, including three boundaries and a six. However, the momentum evaporated rapidly. Axar Patel struck with his first delivery, bowled Gurbaz after the opener backed away to sweep and missed. Three balls later, Sediqullah Atal top-edged a slog sweep, and Abhishek completed a fine running catch at deep midwicket. Jasprit Bumrah then yorked Darwish Rasooli with a 140 kmph delivery, and Yash Thakur sent back Zadran for 25 caught at deep square leg. Afghanistan were four down inside the powerplay, and the contest was effectively over.
Reddy and Bishnoi Complete the Demolition
Nitish Kumar Reddy finished with 3 for 25, recording his second consecutive three-wicket haul, dismissing Mohammad Nabi with a skidding length ball that sneaked under the inside edge and clattered the stumps, and removing Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman to cap the innings. Ravi Bishnoi claimed 3 for 26, bowling out Rashid Khan and having Abdullah Omarzai caught in the deep to seal victory. Debutant Noor ul Rahman, dropped by Tilak Varma at long-off, made a brief 11 off 15 balls before Bishnoi induced a miscue. Afghanistan were bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs, handing India a thumping 127-run win.
Series Result and Brief Scores
India won the three-match T20I series 3-0, without dropping a single game. Brief Scores: India 221 for 7 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 108, Sanju Samson 50; Azmatullah Omarzai 2-27, Abdullah Ahmadzai 1-38) beat Afghanistan 94 all out in 14.1 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 25, Azmatullah Omarzai 17; Nitish Kumar Reddy 3-25, Ravi Bishnoi 3-26) by 127 runs.
What This Means Going Forward
The series result underlines India's depth in the shortest format, with young talents like Abhishek Sharma and Reddy making compelling cases for regular berths. Notably, Abhishek's record century arrives at a time when India's T20I batting order is in competitive flux ahead of future ICC events. For Afghanistan, the 3-0 reverse — conceding totals above 200 in consecutive matches — will prompt serious reflection on their bowling and powerplay defence strategies.
Point of View
Where top-order aggression is now the baseline, not the exception. What is often overlooked in a 127-run win is Reddy's back-to-back three-wicket hauls: a seam-bowling all-rounder who can bat at No. 7 and bowl in the powerplay is a rare commodity in world cricket, and India appear to have found one. For Afghanistan, the 3-0 loss exposes a recurring vulnerability — they have not yet solved how to defend or bowl out a rampant Indian top order on flat decks. The gap between the two sides, at least in the shortest format, is widening rather than narrowing.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds the record for the fastest T20I century by a Test-playing nation batter?
Abhishek Sharma now holds the record, having reached his T20I century off just 30 balls against Afghanistan on 17 September 2026 in New Delhi. He surpassed Rohit Sharma's previous best of 35 balls, set in 2017.
What was the result of the 3rd T20I between India and Afghanistan?
India beat Afghanistan by 127 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, bowling the visitors out for 94 in 14.1 overs after posting 221 for 7. The result sealed India's 3-0 series whitewash.
How did Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi perform in the match?
Nitish Kumar Reddy took 3 for 25 — his second successive three-wicket haul in the series — and Ravi Bishnoi claimed 3 for 26. Together they were the chief architects of Afghanistan's collapse to 94 all out.
How did Afghanistan's batting collapse unfold in the chase?
Afghanistan lost four wickets inside the powerplay while chasing 222, with Gurbaz, Atal, Rasooli, and Zadran all dismissed cheaply. The early collapse made the result a foregone conclusion, and they were eventually bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs.
What were the key contributions in India's total of 221 for 7?
Abhishek Sharma's explosive 108 off 34 balls was the centrepiece of India's innings, while Sanju Samson added 50. Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai was their best bowler with 2 for 27.
