India beat Afghanistan 3-0 in Friendship Cup at Arun Jaitley Stadium, draws 85,000-plus fans
Synopsis
India swept Afghanistan 3-0 in the Friendship Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, drawing over 85,000 fans including thousands who travelled from Afghanistan. DDCA chief Rohan Jaitley called it a landmark moment for cricket diplomacy, aligning with PM Modi's vision of stronger ties with India's neighbours — a rare instance of a country hosting another nation's 'home' series.
Key Takeaways
India won 'The Friendship Cup' series 3-0 against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium , New Delhi .
India secured two seven-wicket wins before a 127-run victory in the final match on Thursday .
Combined attendance across three matches exceeded 85,000 , with match-wise figures of 25,165 , 24,259 , and 26,230 .
DDCA President Rohan Jaitley credited the Afghanistan Cricket Board , BCCI , and ICC Chairman Jay Shah for making the series possible.
Afghanistan staged its 'home' series in New Delhi , with Jaitley framing the move as a reflection of strong bilateral ties aligned with PM Modi's neighbourhood policy.
Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley on 18 September 2026 praised the successful hosting of 'The Friendship Cup' — a three-match series between India and Afghanistan — at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, calling it a landmark moment for cricket diplomacy. India sealed a 3-0 series win, with the series drawing a combined attendance of more than 85,000 fans across all three matches.
India's Dominant Series Win
India's batting lineup proved too strong for Afghanistan across all three encounters. The hosts registered back-to-back seven-wicket victories in the first two matches, before wrapping up the series with a commanding 127-run win in Thursday's final fixture. The result underlined India's commanding depth, even as Afghanistan showed flashes of competitive cricket that enthused both sets of supporters.
Packed Stands at Arun Jaitley Stadium
The series generated considerable public enthusiasm in the national capital. The opening match on Sunday drew 25,165 spectators, while 24,259 fans attended the second game on Tuesday. The third and final match recorded the highest turnout of the three, with 26,230 in attendance. Notably, thousands of Afghan fans reportedly made the journey to New Delhi specifically to support their team, contributing to what Jaitley described as an 'incredible atmosphere' throughout.
What DDCA President Rohan Jaitley Said
'Congratulations to Team India on a memorable 3-0 series victory against Afghanistan. The Friendship Cup has been a wonderful celebration of cricket,' Jaitley said in a statement. He credited the series for showcasing cricket's role as a vehicle for people-to-people ties. 'With Afghanistan playing its home series against India in Delhi, the occasion was also a great reflection of the strong bond between the two countries and the power of sport to bring people closer, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of stronger ties with our neighbours,' he added.
Cricket Diplomacy and the India-Afghanistan Bond
Afghanistan's decision to stage its home series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium — rather than a neutral venue elsewhere — is being seen as a significant diplomatic signal. Jaitley credited the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah for enabling the series. This comes amid sustained efforts by both governments to deepen bilateral ties through cultural and sporting exchange. The Friendship Cup is the latest example of sport serving as soft-power diplomacy in the region.
What Comes Next
The series marks a significant milestone for Afghan cricket's relationship with Indian venues and administration. Cricket observers will watch whether such bilateral series, hosted in India on Afghanistan's behalf, become a regular feature of the calendar — particularly given the ongoing constraints on hosting major international matches inside Afghanistan.
Point of View
By extension, their governments. Yet the framing raises a question mainstream coverage glosses over: how long can Afghanistan remain dependent on foreign venues for home cricket, and does this arrangement, however goodwill-laden, inadvertently normalise a situation that limits Afghan cricket's sovereignty on its own soil? The 85,000-plus attendance is a genuine marker of public enthusiasm, but the durability of this cricketing diplomacy will depend on conditions inside Afghanistan that no bilateral series can resolve.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India-Afghanistan Friendship Cup 2026?
The Friendship Cup is a three-match bilateral cricket series between India and Afghanistan, played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi in September 2026. India won the series 3-0, with Afghanistan using Delhi as its designated 'home' venue for the matches.
What were the results of the three Friendship Cup matches?
India won all three matches — the first two by seven wickets each, and the third by 127 runs on Thursday night — completing a clean 3-0 sweep.
How many fans attended the Friendship Cup series?
A combined total of more than 85,000 fans attended the three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Match-wise attendance was 25,165 for the first game, 24,259 for the second, and 26,230 for the third, with thousands of Afghan fans reportedly travelling to New Delhi for the series.
Why did Afghanistan play its 'home' series in New Delhi?
Afghanistan has staged home series in India due to the constraints on hosting major international matches inside Afghanistan. DDCA President Rohan Jaitley described the arrangement as a reflection of the strong bond between the two countries and PM Modi's vision of closer neighbourhood ties.
Who were credited with making the Friendship Cup possible?
DDCA President Rohan Jaitley credited the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and ICC Chairman Jay Shah for their support in organising the series and enabling Delhi to host the matches.
