Abhishek smashes India to T20 win over Afghanistan

Abhishek Sharma has scored 82 off 32 balls, decorated with seven sixes and seven fours, as India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets with 38 balls remaining in their first T20 international.

Ishan Kishan contributed a 33-ball 42 and put on 121 off only 53 deliveries with Sharma for the second wicket as India steamrolled their way to an easy win, finishing at 3-157 in just 13.4 overs.

Earlier, Afghanistan were restricted to 6-156 in their 20 overs with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh taking 3-19 in four overs.

Afghanistan were put in to bat, after India's Shreyas Iyer won the toss, with his decision vindicated as they were reduced to 5-43 in seven overs.

Azmatullah Omarzai rescued the Afghans with 64 not out off 44 balls, while Mohammad Nabi hit 33.

Chasing 157 to win, India lost Sanju Samson for 10 – he was caught off Omarzai.

But Sharma set a hectic pace, racing to 50 off 22 balls — his 12th half century for India in T20s.