India vs Afghanistan Live স্কোর, 1st T20I of India tour of Afghanistan, 2026

That's a wrap - Just a day's break and the two teams will meet again here in Delhi on Tuesday, 15th September. India will be keen to wrap up the series, while Afghanistan will be desperate for a response. They will need a much-improved showing with both bat and ball if they are to put Shreyas Iyer and his men under pressure and keep the series alive. The game will begin at 2 pm GMT (7.30 pm IST), but as always, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The skipper of India - Shreyas Iyer, about the field placements and bowling execution, feels really happy to see the synergy on the field. He heaps praise on Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a great asset and a genuine match-winner. Continues by adding that the early breakthroughs set the tone and built momentum from the start. Also credits Arshdeep's bowling, saying he followed up with a brilliant spell of his own, with Axar and Varun continuing the pressure after him. Overall, Iyer calls this bowling performance a phenomenal effort. On handing Dube the final over, Iyer says there weren't many options left. Also admits it was a tough ask for him too, coming on fresh for the 20th over without a real feel for the pace of the wicket or how it was behaving. Details that he is not overly concerned, though, and adds that Dube will go back and work out exactly what needs fixing. On Abhishek's batting display and Kishan's form, Iyer starts by praising Abhishek, calling his strokeplay flawless and exemplary through the innings. Turning to Kishan, he says he is in excellent touch right now, and points to how settled he has looked both in the dressing room and during practice. Calls Kishan calm, relaxed, and clearly assured of his game.

The captain of Afghanistan - Ibrahim Zadran says it was not the result they wanted. He feels they got off to a good start but then lost a cluster of wickets, which put them under pressure. Ibrahim says they batted well through the middle phase but ultimately did not have enough runs on the board. Zadran also feels his run-out was a turning point in the innings. He says India are a top fielding side and praises Ishan Kishan for his accurate throw in the run-out. Mentions that Rahmanullah Gurbaz did not have his day, but backs him to come back stronger.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Abhishek Sharma takes home the award for his scintillating knock of 82 runs off 32 balls, studded with 7 fours and as many sixes. Abhishek says getting a catch in the first over, that too in the slips, makes one feel really confident. Mentions that when they face Bumrah during the net sessions, it feels like they are facing the first few overs of a Test match. Details that they are always on their toes in the slips when he bowls. On the team's consistency, Sharma points back two years to a clear decision to play an aggressive brand of cricket and dominate opponents ahead of the World Cup. He adds that while the results have largely gone their way, and a series or two shouldn't define them as a batting unit. Stresses that the team always comes first, and that a fast start usually puts them well ahead when chasing something in the 150 to 160 range.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Recovered, but not enough - Returning to T20Is after a period away, India were not at their best with the ball upfront, but still managed to have Afghanistan 5 down inside 7 overs. At 43/5, two experienced campaigners, Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai, came together to steady the ship, putting on an 83-run stand for the 6th wicket. Nabi's departure was followed by a quiet period for the Afghans, but Omarzai batted through to provide the final flourish and give his side something to work with. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy were among the pick of the bowlers for India, with both keeping things miserly. Arshdeep claimed 3 wickets, while Varun chipped in with one.

Sunday special from Sharma - The back of the chase was broken in the Powerplay itself, with Abhishek Sharma ensuring that, after a quiet tour of Zimbabwe, normal service resumed. Watchful at the start, the southpaw soon shifted gears and teed off, leaving Afghanistan scrambling for answers. They repeatedly missed their mark against Sharma and could not come up with a plan to contain him. A 121-run stand between Sharma and Ishan Kishan sealed the fate of the game, with the chase completed inside 14 overs.

India canter home - A chase of 157 was made to look ridiculously easy by the reigning T20I champions. India remain the only team Afghanistan are yet to beat in international cricket among the Full Members. Pegged back early with the bat, the Ibrahim Zadran-led unit were always playing catch-up from there, and India proved far too good for them.

Comfortably done. Afghanistan have been Abhi-shocked in Delhi! Length delivery outside off, Tilak rocks back and steers it toward backward point for a single. It comes off the toe end, though. And hang on, the fielder has a shy at the bowling end but misses, and there is an overthrow that gifts India the extra run and the triumph as well. India win by 7 wickets with 38 balls to spare! A thunderous batting display by the Men in Blue as they go 1-0 in the series.

Flat googly, full on the leg stump. Iyer gets across and tickles it to the right of short fine leg for a quick single. Iyer is not happy with Tilak not calling for the run.

Drops it short on off, Tilak rocks back and knocks it to long off for an easy run.

A touch shorter, on middle, Shreyas whips it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The length is dragged back a bit, on off, Tilak backs away and punches it to cover.

The off-break, full and on middle, Tilak lunges and looks to flick across, but the ball grazes the leading edge and rolls into covers.

The new batter is Tilak Varma.

OUT! CAUGHT BRILLIANTLY! Rashid Khan comes up with a top grab. On a length, shaping in from outside off. Kishan gets forward and hammers flat and hard back down the ground. It doesn't climb much, sailing flat towards Rashid stationed at long on. Right on the rope, he lifts one leg to stay inside the line and pouches the catch clean after balancing up. The umpires want to check whether Rashid came in contact with the boundary cushion while holding the ball. And the replay confirms that it is a legal catch. Kishan's fun ends, and India are 152/3, needing 5 runs to win.

In line of the stumps, full in length, Shreyas clips it along the ground to wide deep square leg for a single.

Short and outside off, Ishan hangs back and cuts it powerfully to deep cover-point for a single.

FOUR! In a hurry to get the job done. Too full from Nabi, very quick at 103 kph, outside off. Ishan responds with equal brute force and blasts that down the ground. Before long on can move a muscle, the ball crashes into the fence. India bring up their 150, and they need just 7 more runs to win.

Could be the last over of the game. India need 11 runs to win from 48 balls.

Full at 96 kph, on the pads. Kishan turns it away behind square leg and retains the strike with a single.

Short and wide on off. Iyer stays back and slaps it wide of deep cover. Kishan is keen for the second run but is sent back by his partner and rightly so, as the fielder in the deep was quick to get rid of the ball.

FOUR! In the gap. Flighted up, a bit of turn, on off. Iyer presses forward and plays it late as he angles the drive through point. Darwish Rasooli covers a lot of ground to his left and dives but in vain.

Dropped short, on middle, Kishan pulls it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

An optimistic shout for LBW! Full and around leg, Kishan lunges for the flick but is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the front pad. That has pitched outside the line of the leg stump.

Down leg, full in length. Kishan fails to help it away as the ball clips his pads and drops on the deck.

Abhishek's overdrive finally switches off. No real celebration from Rashid and the others as they know the game has gone far away from them. Shreyas Iyer walks in at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Abhishek Sharma holes out. End of the entertainment from the southpaw. Nabi tries to dart it in very full from around the wicket but ends up serving a full toss, on middle and leg. Sharma has a heave across the line but he does so early and the ball catches the toe end of the blade. It is skied towards wide long on, where Rashid Khan initially thinks that the deep mid-wicket fielder is closer to the ball and hence he does not commit to the catch. He later goes for it and slides to take a reverse cup catch at head height. End of a 121-run stand. India are 139/2, needing 18 more runs.

Shorter and on middle. Sharma clears the front leg and hangs deep in the crease as he smears it away to the right of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

SIX! Picked up beautifully. Flighted up, aimed at the pads. Sharma gets the front leg out of the way and sinks to a knee as he swats it behind square leg. Gets just enough bat on it to clear the fence. 20 more needed for the win as well as for Sharma to reach his hundred.