India Clinches Friendship Cup with Dominant Win Against Afghanistan
India wrapped up the Friendship Cup with a decisive 127-run victory over Afghanistan in the final T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, completing a clean sweep of the three-match series.
The star of the evening was opener Abhishek Sharma, who delivered a record-breaking performance that will be remembered in T20I history. He reached his century in just 30 balls, setting the record for the fastest T20I hundred by a player from a Full Member country. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Finn Allen of New Zealand by three balls. Abhishek also became the fastest Indian to score a T20I century, overtaking Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball record set in 2017.
Abhishek’s explosive innings started right from the first over. He scored his first fifty in 16 balls and then raced to another fifty in just 14 more, finishing with a stunning 108 runs off 34 balls. His innings included nine fours and an incredible eleven sixes, giving him a strike rate of 317.65.
Sanju Samson also played a key role, contributing a solid 50 runs off 35 balls. Together, the opening pair put on 142 runs in just 9.5 overs, helping India reach their highest-ever powerplay score in T20I cricket at 100 runs.
On the Afghan side, their chase faltered early on. After a quick start of 31 runs without losing a wicket, they quickly lost their way. Axar Patel made quick inroads by taking two wickets during the powerplay. Jasprit Bumrah and Yash Thakur also got in on the wicket-taking action.
The turning point came when Nitish Kumar Reddy made a major impact, claiming three wickets in a single over. He dismissed crucial players including Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, effectively quashing Afghanistan’s chances of a comeback. Ravi Bishnoi wrapped up the innings with figures of 3 for 26, as Afghanistan was bowled out for just 94 in 14.1 overs.
Throughout the series, India maintained a commanding presence. In the first match on September 13, Afghanistan struggled early, falling to 43 for 5. However, a fighting innings from Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored 64 runs, lifted them to 156 for 8. Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler for India with 3 wickets for 19 runs. In reply, Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 82 runs off 32 balls helped India chase down the target comfortably in just 13.4 overs.
The second T20I on September 15 was similarly one-sided, with Afghanistan’s total of 159 for 8 being inadequate. India’s Sanju Samson, who had a disappointing start in the first match, bounced back with a quick 57 off 22 balls, leading his team to chase down the target with seven wickets in hand.
Celebrating Sportsmanship
The evening concluded in the spirit of friendship that the Cup represents. During the trophy presentation, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer invited Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran onto the podium, sharing the trophy and joining together for a team photograph. This moment mirrored the camaraderie shown back in 2018 when captain Ajinkya Rahane welcomed the Afghanistan team to join in a similar celebration after their historic first Test match.
Abhishek Sharma was awarded both Player of the Match for the final and Player of the Series, scoring a total of 229 runs at an average of 76.33. Nitish Kumar Reddy was the leading wicket-taker of the series with six wickets.
Looking ahead, India will play against Japan in a historic T20I match on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground, marking the first-ever meeting between the two nations in men’s international cricket. This match kicks off celebrations for the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations and will serve as preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, where India will begin its campaign at the quarterfinal stage on September 28.
