CricAnalyser | September 15, 2026
India wrapped up the second T20I against Afghanistan in style at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, chasing down a competitive target with more than six overs to spare. Afghanistan posted 159/8 in their 20 overs, but India ran the target down comfortably, finishing at 163/3 in just 14.5 overs for a 7-wicket win that put them firmly in control of the series.
Key Match Takeaways
The story of this match was Nitish Kumar Reddy's bowling. Figures of 3 for 24 from the young all-rounder earned him the Player of the Match award and were the single biggest reason Afghanistan never got their innings away to the kind of total that would have made this a contest. Reddy has built a reputation as a batting finisher in India's white-ball setup since his breakout 74 against Bangladesh in 2024, but this performance was a reminder that his medium pace is just as capable of turning a match — restricting Afghanistan's middle order at a stage when the innings looked to be accelerating, and giving India's chase a total that was always within reach.
Once India came out to bat, the chase never looked in serious doubt. Reaching 163 for the loss of just 3 wickets inside 15 overs against a total of 159 is the mark of a batting unit that controlled the tempo of the chase from the start rather than needing to force the pace late. With more than 30 balls unused at the finish, India were never under the kind of scoreboard pressure that might have opened the door for Afghanistan's bowlers to fight back.
The result puts India in command of the series with one match still to play. For Afghanistan, restricting a strong batting line-up to a below-par target only for their own total to prove insufficient will be the bigger concern heading into the decider — the bowling did enough to give their side a chance, but 159 was always going to be a stiff ask for containing an in-form Indian top order on a used Delhi surface.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 159/8 | 20.0 |
| India | 163/3 | 14.5 |
Result: India won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Nitish Kumar Reddy (3/24)
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I?
India won by 7 wickets, chasing down Afghanistan's 159/8 with 30 balls to spare.
Who was Player of the Match?
Nitish Kumar Reddy, for his bowling figures of 3 wickets for 24 runs.
What does this mean for the series?
India move into a commanding position with the win, heading into the final T20I of the series with the momentum firmly in their favour.
Tags: #INDvAFG #NitishKumarReddy #TeamIndia #T20I #CricAnalyser
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