The third and final T20I between India and Afghanistan is taking place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 17, 2026. India entered the match with a 2–0 series lead after winning the opening two games by seven wickets.
For cricket followers, the India vs Afghanistan series has been an interesting contest, with strong batting performances from India’s young players and Afghanistan’s experienced bowling attack. Reddy Anna Official brings this match coverage together with the latest cricket news, team updates, playing XI information and key player performances.
India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Match Update
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision gave their bowlers an opportunity to use the conditions early and put pressure on India’s top order.
India made one change to its playing XI for the final T20I. Yash Thakur came into the side in place of Arshdeep Singh, while young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not included in the final XI.
India had already secured the series before this game, but the third T20I remained important for players looking to make an impression and for the team management to assess different combinations.
India vs Afghanistan Playing XI
India Playing XI
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Tilak Varma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Yash Thakur
- Jasprit Bumrah
Yash Thakur’s inclusion was the main change for India in the third match.
Afghanistan Playing XI
- Ibrahim Zadran (C)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Noor ul Rahman
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Abdollah Ahmadzai
Afghanistan’s combination featured a mixture of experienced international players and younger talent.
Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive Century
The biggest highlight of the match was Abhishek Sharma’s outstanding batting performance.
After Afghanistan decided to bowl first, Abhishek attacked from the opening overs and produced a remarkable century. He scored 108 runs from just 34 balls, including nine fours and 11 sixes.
His century came in only 30 deliveries, making it a record-breaking performance for an Indian batter in T20I cricket. His aggressive batting gave India a huge advantage during the first half of the innings.
Sanju Samson also played an important role at the top of the order. He scored a quick fifty and helped India build a strong opening partnership.
India Posts 221/7
India finished its innings at 221/7, setting Afghanistan a challenging target.
Abhishek Sharma’s 108 was the standout performance, while Sanju Samson’s fifty added stability to India’s innings. The Indian batting lineup maintained a high scoring rate throughout the innings.
Rashid Khan eventually dismissed Abhishek Sharma, but the Indian opener had already put Afghanistan under significant pressure.
For readers following Reddy Anna cricket updates, Abhishek’s innings was one of the biggest talking points of the third T20I.
Key Players in India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma was the standout batter of the match. His ability to attack from the first over has made him an important player in India’s T20 setup.
His 108-run innings showed how effectively he can use the powerplay and put pressure on opposition bowlers.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer led India in the series and played an important role in managing the team. His captaincy and batting experience provide balance to India’s middle order.
With several international assignments ahead, his performances and leadership will continue to attract attention from cricket fans.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson contributed with a valuable fifty and provided stability at the top of the order.
His wicketkeeping skills and ability to score quickly make him an important option for India’s T20 combination.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah remains one of India’s most experienced fast bowlers. His accuracy and ability to bowl effectively at different stages of a T20 match make him a key part of India’s bowling attack.
Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is one of Afghanistan’s most experienced players. His leg-spin and variations can create problems for batters during the middle overs.
He also played an important role by dismissing Abhishek Sharma after the Indian opener’s spectacular century.
India vs Afghanistan Series So Far
India won the first two T20Is by seven wickets and secured the three-match series before the final game.
The results have highlighted India’s ability to chase targets efficiently while Afghanistan has continued to search for greater consistency with both bat and ball.
The third match provided Afghanistan with an opportunity to finish the series strongly, while India looked to complete a clean sweep.
Latest Match Updates
The major developments from the India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I include:
- Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl.
- India made one change to its playing XI.
- Yash Thakur replaced Arshdeep Singh.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not included in the final XI.
- India scored 221/7.
- Abhishek Sharma scored 108 from 34 balls.
- Abhishek completed his century in 30 balls.
- Sanju Samson scored a half-century.
- India entered the final match with a 2–0 series lead.
Reddy Anna Official continues to focus on cricket-related news, match previews, player updates and important developments for cricket readers.
Why This Match Matters for India
Even though India had already won the series, the final T20I was useful for evaluating players and combinations.
Young players getting opportunities at the international level can provide valuable experience, while established players can use such matches to maintain their rhythm before upcoming series.
The performance of Abhishek Sharma was particularly significant because it demonstrated India’s growing depth in attacking T20 batting.
What Cricket Fans Can Take From the Series
The India vs Afghanistan T20I series has produced several interesting individual performances and tactical moments.
India’s batting depth has been one of the major talking points, while Afghanistan continues to rely on experienced players such as Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi alongside its emerging talent.
For followers of Reddy Anna, this series also provides plenty of cricket-related topics to follow, including player form, team combinations, upcoming fixtures and performances from young international players.
Conclusion
The third T20I between India and Afghanistan provided another exciting contest for cricket fans. India’s 2–0 series lead gave the hosts confidence, while Afghanistan had the opportunity to end the series with a strong performance.
Abhishek Sharma’s spectacular 108-run innings became the biggest highlight of the match, while Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and India’s bowling unit also remained important talking points.
For the latest cricket news, match updates, playing XI information and player stories, Reddy Anna Official provides readers with regular sports-focused content and updates.