India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20: Abhishek Sharma’s Record Century Powers India to 127-Run Win
India ended their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in spectacular fashion, completing a 3-0 clean sweep after a commanding 127-run victory in the third match. The game at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi produced one of the most explosive batting displays of the series, with young opener Abhishek Sharma taking center stage.
Abhishek smashed 108 runs from just 34 deliveries, including nine fours and 11 sixes. His extraordinary hitting saw him reach his century in only 30 balls, giving India another memorable moment in T20 international cricket.
India eventually posted 221/7 in 20 overs before Afghanistan were bowled out for 94 in just 14.1 overs. While Abhishek's innings dominated the headlines, India's victory was also built around an effective bowling performance that kept Afghanistan under pressure throughout their chase.
India Complete a 3-0 T20I Series Sweep
The third T20I was the final opportunity for Afghanistan to prevent India from completing a clean sweep. After losing the opening two matches, Afghanistan won the toss in Delhi and chose to put India into bat.
That decision immediately brought Abhishek Sharma into the spotlight.
India's opening pair of Abhishek and Sanju Samson attacked from the beginning. Their partnership produced 142 runs for the first wicket and gave India an exceptional platform.
The first six overs were particularly damaging for Afghanistan. India raced to 100 runs during the powerplay, putting the visiting bowling attack under enormous pressure.
Sanju Samson contributed a valuable half-century, scoring 50 runs. However, the innings belonged overwhelmingly to Abhishek, whose aggressive approach transformed the match.
Abhishek Sharma Reaches a Stunning Century
Abhishek's century was the defining moment of the match.
He needed only 30 balls to reach three figures, setting a new benchmark for the fastest T20 international century by an Indian batter. His innings combined clean striking with remarkable consistency, as he repeatedly found the boundary.
By the time he was dismissed, Abhishek had scored 108 from 34 balls. Nine fours and 11 sixes accounted for much of his scoring, highlighting just how aggressively he attacked the Afghan bowlers.
His century also carried historical significance beyond the India-Afghanistan series. It placed him among the fastest century-makers in T20 international cricket, although the overall international record remained with Estonia's Sahil Chauhan, who had reached three figures in 27 balls.
For Indian cricket, however, Abhishek's achievement was particularly significant because he moved past the previous Indian record of a 35-ball T20I century.
A Record-Breaking Powerplay
One of the most remarkable aspects of Abhishek's innings was the speed at which he accumulated runs during the opening six overs.
He scored 76 runs from only 22 balls during the powerplay. This was an extraordinary contribution at a stage when fielding restrictions usually encourage attacking batting but also require batters to maintain a balance between aggression and risk.
Abhishek showed almost no hesitation.
Rather than waiting for the innings to develop, he immediately put pressure on the bowlers. Boundaries arrived regularly, and Afghanistan struggled to establish control.
This type of start can dramatically change the direction of a T20 match. A team that scores heavily during the powerplay has more freedom later in the innings because it already has a strong scoring base.
India took full advantage of that early momentum.
Sanju Samson Provides Valuable Support
While Abhishek's century understandably attracted most of the attention, Sanju Samson also played an important role.
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter scored 50 and formed a 142-run opening partnership with Abhishek. His contribution ensured that Afghanistan could not focus exclusively on one batter.
The partnership was particularly important because it gave India a rapid start without requiring the middle order to take unnecessary risks during the initial phase.
Samson's consecutive half-centuries also provided additional confidence to India's batting combination.
Once the opening pair had created such a strong platform, India were in position to aim for a substantial total.
Afghanistan Fight Back in the Middle Overs
Despite India's extraordinary beginning, Afghanistan's bowlers eventually managed to slow the scoring rate.
After reaching 142/1 after 10 overs, India did not maintain the same pace during the second half of the innings. Afghanistan picked up wickets and reduced India's scoring opportunities.
Tilak Varma was dismissed after a run-out, while Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube also fell during this phase.
One of the notable moments came when Rashid Khan produced a boundary-line catch to dismiss Shivam Dube. The effort helped Afghanistan regain some control after India's explosive opening.
India scored 79 runs during the final 10 overs and finished with 221/7.
Although the scoring rate had slowed, the total remained a formidable target.
India's Bowlers Finish the Job
Chasing 222 required Afghanistan to produce an exceptional batting performance. Instead, the innings quickly lost momentum.
Axar Patel made an immediate impact by removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal in his first over. Those early wickets placed Afghanistan under severe pressure.
Nitish Kumar Reddy then added to India's advantage by taking three wickets for 25 runs.
Ravi Bishnoi completed the bowling effort with three wickets, helping India dismiss Afghanistan for only 94 in 14.1 overs.
The result meant Afghanistan never came close to threatening India's total.
India's bowling performance also demonstrated an important feature of the victory: this was not simply a one-player win. Abhishek's extraordinary batting created the platform, but India's bowlers ensured that Afghanistan could not turn the contest into a competitive chase.
Why Abhishek Sharma's Performance Matters
Abhishek's innings could have significance beyond this individual match.
T20 cricket increasingly rewards batters who can score quickly from the beginning. An opener capable of producing a century in only 30 balls gives a team a major advantage because the scoring pressure is immediately transferred to the opposition.
Abhishek's performance also demonstrated that he can translate aggressive batting into international cricket.
His ability to attack during the powerplay, clear the boundary regularly and maintain a high scoring rate makes his style particularly suited to the shortest international format.
However, one spectacular innings does not define a player's entire career. The bigger challenge for Abhishek will be maintaining consistency and continuing to perform against different bowling attacks and match situations.
India’s 3-0 Clean Sweep Adds to the Significance
The victory completed India's 3-0 series sweep over Afghanistan.
India won the opening two matches before finishing the series with an even larger margin in the third game. Afghanistan had scored 156/8 and 159/8 in the first two matches, but their batting struggled even more dramatically in the finale.
Their 94 all-out score underlined how difficult the chase became once India had established a 221-run target.
For India, the series provided opportunities for several players to contribute, while the final match offered an especially strong combination of explosive batting and disciplined bowling.
What This Could Mean for India’s T20 Batting
The performance also highlights the depth of attacking options available to India in T20 cricket.
An opening batter such as Abhishek can influence a match within a few overs. When supported by players capable of building partnerships and accelerating later, India can potentially create very large totals.
At the same time, T20 cricket remains unpredictable. Conditions, opposition bowling, wickets and match situations can all affect how successfully an aggressive approach works.
Abhishek's 108 therefore stands out not simply because of the number of runs, but because of how quickly those runs arrived.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the third India vs Afghanistan T20I?
India defeated Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I in New Delhi.
How many runs did Abhishek Sharma score?
Abhishek Sharma scored 108 runs from 34 balls.
How many balls did Abhishek Sharma take to score his century?
He completed his century in only 30 balls.
How many sixes did Abhishek Sharma hit?
Abhishek hit 11 sixes during his 108-run innings.
What was India's score?
India scored 221 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs.
What was Afghanistan's score?
Afghanistan were bowled out for 94 runs in 14.1 overs.
What was the result of the T20I series?
India completed a 3-0 clean sweep over Afghanistan.
Who else contributed with the bat for India?
Sanju Samson scored 50 runs and shared a 142-run opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma.
Which Indian bowlers played important roles?
Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi were among India's key contributors with the ball. Nitish and Bishnoi took three wickets each, while Axar claimed two.
Conclusion
India's third T20I against Afghanistan turned into a memorable night of attacking cricket. Abhishek Sharma's 30-ball century and eventual 108-run innings provided the spectacular centerpiece, while Sanju Samson's half-century helped India establish a huge opening partnership.
After reaching 221/7, India completed the job with an impressive bowling performance, dismissing Afghanistan for 94 and securing a 127-run victory.
The result gave India a 3-0 series sweep, but Abhishek's record-setting century will remain the defining image of the match. His explosive approach, extraordinary powerplay numbers and ability to convert aggression into a major international score make this innings an important milestone in his T20 journey.
For Afghanistan, the series offered valuable experience against a strong Indian side. For India, the final match demonstrated how quickly a T20 contest can be shaped by an explosive opening partnership followed by disciplined bowling.
Most importantly, the Delhi match showed once again why T20 cricket can produce extraordinary individual performances within a matter of minutes—and Abhishek Sharma's record-breaking evening was a perfect example.