Afghanistan endured a disappointing night in Delhi as India handed them their biggest defeat by runs in T20I cricket. India secured a massive 127-run victory in the third T20I, completing a 3-0 series sweep while adding another unwanted record to Afghanistan’s T20I history.
The result was largely decided by India’s explosive batting effort, led by a breathtaking century from Abhishek Sharma. Afghanistan never looked comfortable during the chase, eventually being dismissed for just 94, leaving them with their heaviest defeat in the format.
The 127-run margin moved to the top of Afghanistan’s list of biggest T20I defeats, overtaking a record that had stood since 2012.
Afghanistan’s biggest defeats in T20I cricket
India’s victory in Delhi is now the largest defeat Afghanistan have suffered in a T20I. Their five biggest defeats by runs are:
| Rank | Margin | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 127 runs | India | Delhi | 2026 |
| 2 | 116 runs | England | Colombo (RPS) | 2012 |
| 3 | 104 runs | West Indies | Gros Islet | 2024 |
| 4 | 101 runs | India | Dubai | 2022 |
| 5 | 75 runs | Pakistan | Sharjah | 2025 |
The latest defeat was particularly embarrassing because Afghanistan were unable to mount a serious challenge after India posted a daunting total.
Abhishek Sharma sets up India’s massive total
India’s innings revolved around Abhishek who produced one of the most destructive knocks of his T20I career.
The left-hander smashed 108 runs from only 34 balls, combining clean hitting with remarkable timing. His knock included nine fours and 11 sixes, allowing India to accelerate rapidly during the middle and final stages of the innings.
Abhishek’s century arrived in just 30 balls, underlining the extraordinary pace at which he scored. His assault left Afghanistan’s bowlers with few answers as India finished on 221/7 in 20 overs.
The performance also added to what had already been an excellent series for the Indian opener. His aggressive approach at the top of the order has made him one of the most exciting young batters in T20 cricket.
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Afghanistan collapse during 222-run chase
Afghanistan needed 222 runs to keep the series alive, but their chase never really gathered momentum.
The Indian bowling attack applied pressure from the outset, regularly finding breakthroughs and preventing Afghanistan’s batters from building substantial partnerships.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi were particularly effective. Nitish finished with figures of 3/25, while Bishnoi claimed 3/26, as both bowlers played a major role in dismantling Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 94 in 14.1 overs. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the visitors had no opportunity to threaten India’s huge total.
The final margin of 127 runs therefore reflected India’s dominance in both innings.