IND vs AFG 3rd T20: India Scored 221/7 After Record Abhishek Ton

NEW DELHI: Opening batter Abhishek Sharma shattered records to propel India to a commanding total of 221/7 in the IND vs AFG 3rd t20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Having already clinched the three-match bilateral series 2-0, the hosts showed no signs of complacency in this final dead-rubber clash.

Powerplay Mayhem Settles the Tone

Opting to field first after winning the toss, Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran hoped his bowlers could exploit any early assistance from the Delhi surface. Instead, they ran straight into a cricketing hurricane. Sharma, partnered alongside wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, unleashed a relentless assault from the opening over.The duo rewrote the record books by hammering 100 runs within the first six overs, marking the highest powerplay score in India's T20I history. 

Sharma raced to his half-century off just 16 deliveries. Zadran threw a tactical gamble by introducing veteran off-spinner Mohammad Nabi to stem the flow of runs, but the move backfired spectacularly as Nabi conceded 29 runs in his solitary over.

Abhishek Sharma Climbs the Record Books

There was no respite for the touring side as Sharma marched onwards to cross the three-figure mark in an astonishing 30 balls, registering the fastest T20I century by an Indian cricketer. His breathtaking innings of 108 runs came off a mere 34 deliveries, decorated with 9 boundaries and a colossal 11 sixes.

At the other end, Sanju Samson played the perfect foil while remaining highly aggressive. Silencing recent critics, Samson brought up a fluent 50 off 35 balls, including two boundaries and four hits over the fence. Together, the opening pair stitched a monumental 142-run partnership before Rashid Khan finally broke the breakthrough, getting Sharma caught by Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Afghanistan Fights Back in Death Overs

Following the dismissal of the openers, Afghanistan clawed their way back using smart variations in pace. Azmatullah Omarzai was the pick of the bowlers, changing speeds effectively to claim 2 for 27 from his spells, including the crucial wicket of Samson.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer chipped in with a steady 29 off 20 balls, and Shivam Dube added 14. However, regular wickets in the final five overs restricted India from crossing the 250-run threshold. 

Abdullah Ahmadzai managed 1 for 38, while Rashid Khan ended his 4 overs with figures of 1/43. Ultimately, India scored a daunting 221/7, leaving the visitors with a steep mountain to climb.

With the required run rate hovering above 11 runs per over, the visitors will need a monumental batting effort to prevent a clean sweep.