IND vs AFG Highlights, 2nd T20I: India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets to take 2-0 series lead

India win by seven wickets and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, finishing on 163 for 3 in 14.5 overs. Rashid Khan returns for the 15th over with four runs still needed. Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan milks three singles, Afghanistan review an LBW against Tilak but the ball comes off the bat, and Kishan then slices a flighted googly over extra cover for four to end the chase. Kishan stays not out after a brisk finish, Tilak is unbeaten with him, and India wrap up the game with 31 balls to spare.

India reach 156/3 after 14 overs in the chase of 160 and need just four more runs. Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma keep the scoreboard moving through Mujeeb’s second over, with Tilak cutting four behind square, before Farooqi’s first over goes for only six. Kishan then tears into Mujeeb in the 14th: he sweeps four in front of square, smashes an 82-metre six over long-on, and cuts four more backward of point. Kishan is 33 off 21, Tilak is 13 off 11, and India are one hit away.

Rashid Khan claims his third wicket and leaves India 125 for 3 after 11 overs in the chase of 160. Shreyas Iyer starts the over quietly, then gives himself room and lofts six inside out over extra cover. Two balls later he looks to force a flatter delivery through the off side, edges to slip, and Ibrahim Zadran holds on at the second attempt. Iyer walks back for 11 off 11. Tilak Varma gets off the mark with a single to long-on, Ishan Kishan keeps strike with one more, and India still need 35 from 54 balls.

India move to 117 for 2 after 10 overs with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer steadying the innings after Rashid Khan’s double strike. Noor Ahmad’s first over costs 9, including a six from Kishan down the ground, but Rashid and Noor then keep it tight. The next two overs yield only 4 and 5 as Iyer and Kishan work singles and a couple saved by Nabi at long-on. Kishan is 14 off 12, Iyer is 5 off 7, and India need 43 more from 60 balls.

Rashid Khan strikes twice in his first over and leaves India 99 for 2 after seven overs. Abhishek Sharma starts the over with a six over mid-wicket, then hols out to Sediqullah Atal at mid-wicket for 39 off 19. Ishan Kishan gets off the mark with a single before Sanju Samson brings up his fastest T20I fifty, guiding Rashid wide of slip for four. Samson follows it with a pull for six over mid-wicket, but holes out to Mohammad Nabi next ball for 57 off 22. India still need 61 from 78 balls.

India finish the powerplay at 82 without loss, after Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma plunder 27 runs off Mohammad Nabi’s third over. Abhishek starts it with a 93-metre flat-bat six over long-on, his third such hit off Nabi, before Samson takes over. He slog-sweeps six over deep mid-wicket, clubs four past the bowler, carves four through extra cover, and finishes the over with six over long-off.

India surge to 55 without loss after five overs in the chase of 160, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma raising a 50-run opening stand in just 28 balls. Omarzai’s first over costs only six, including Samson’s pull to fine leg for four, before Abhishek pulls Nabi over mid-on for six. Samson then tears into Omarzai in the fifth over with a four down the ground, a six flicked over fine leg, a four over cover, and another four that flies off the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Samson is 27 off 15, Abhishek 26 off 15, and India are well ahead in the powerplay.

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson give India a flying start in the chase of 160, reaching 21 without loss after two overs. Abhishek cuts Mujeeb for back-to-back fours in the first over, then pulls Nabi over cow corner for six to finish the second. He is already 16 off 7, Samson is 4 off 5, and India are well ahead of the required rate.

IND 21/0 after 2 overs.

OUTTT!!! Finally a wicket for Jasprit Bumrah in his final over. Mohammad Nabi slices, trying to get over the top, but is caught by Shreyas Iyer. AFG 148/7 (19)

OUTTTT!!!! Two wickets in two overs for India. Darwish Rasooli tries to hit Arshdeep Singh over the bowler's head for a six, but didn't get the elevation, only to be caught by Tilak Varma. AFG 103/6 (15)

Afghanistan were in a similar kind of situation in the last game. And from there on Azmatullah Omarzai powered them to 150-plus. After Omarzai took 13 runs form Shivam Dube's previous over, Darwish Rasooli starts the next over from Axar Patel with a six. OUTTTT!!!!! Finally, Axar has a wicket and its big fish Omarzai. The Afghan batter goes for a biggie, but holes out to Tilak Varma. AFG 96/5 (13.3)

OUTTTT!!! Wickets keep falling for Afghanistan. Gulabdin Naib goes for a flick, but gets a top edge only for Sanju Samson to complete the catch. Nitish Kumar Reddy takes his second wicket of the day. AFG 67/4 (10.2)

OUTTTT!!!! Ravi Bishnoi strikes in his third over. Sediqullah Atal goes for the biggie but is caught by Tilak Varma at long-off. AFG 59/3 (9.2)

OUTTTT!!!!! The lack of boundaries put pressure on Afghanistan, especially Ibrahim Zadran, who had been hitting most of the boundaries. Nitish Kumar Reddy strikes on his first ball, as Zadran hits straight at the hands of Ravi Bishnoi in the boundary. AFG 51/2 (8.1)

Ever since Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed, Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal have been able to get boundaries on a constant basis against Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Zadran has been the aggressor, smashing four fours off Arshdeep and Bumrah. AFG 24/1 (4)

OUTTT!!!! Arshdeep Singh draws the first blood for India. The left-arm pacer bangs the ball short. Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes for the pull, but gets a top edge only to be caught by Ravi Bishnoi. This is the second time Gurbaz has been dismissed for a duck in the series. AFG 0/1 (1.2)

Afghanistan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz walk out to bat in New Delhi. Jasprit Bumrah start for India with a maidne over, a rare sight in T20 cricket. AFG 0/0 (1)

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Varun Chakaravarthy experienced sudden-onset discomfort in his left lateral abdominal region while bowling his third over in the first T20I. Scans have revealed a side strain, and he has subsequently been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is.

Time for toss in Delhi. India captain Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and opts to bowl. India make only one change in the playing XI with Ravi Bishnoi replacing Varun Chakaravarthy, who has been ruled out of the series due to a side strain.

The weather looks cloudy but it doesn't look threatening at all. The pitch no.4 will be used today for the match. The first T20I was played on pitch no.6.