Capital Carnage: Samson Blasts 57 as India Rout Afghanistan to Clinch T20I Series in Delhi

Echoing their rampant display from the opening match, India produced another clinical chase at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday night. Spearheaded by a blistering half-century from wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and an incisive three-wicket burst from all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shreyas Iyer's side gunned down a 160-run target in just 14.5 overs to brush Afghanistan aside by seven wickets, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

DailyCricInfo brings you the complete, fact-checked match report, tactical analysis, and player milestones from the second T20I in New Delhi.

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Spinners Strangle Afghanistan to 159

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, India immediately put Afghanistan under pressure with the new ball.

Jasprit Bumrah opened with a maiden, and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh struck on his third delivery to send Rahmanullah Gurbaz back for a three-ball duck. Sediqullah Atal (12) and captain Ibrahim Zadran (37 off 33 balls) rebuilt with a 41-run stand, but the introduction of Nitish Kumar Reddy blew the innings wide open.

Reddy struck on his very first delivery, removing Atal before running through the Afghan middle order with disciplined seam bowling. The young all-rounder removed Darwish Rasooli (26 off 15) and Gulbadin Naib (10) to finish with career-best figures of 3 for 24 in three overs, earning Player of the Match honors.

Bumrah (1 for 25), Arshdeep (2 for 35), Axar Patel (1 for 28), and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (1 for 32) kept chipping away at regular intervals.

A fighting counter-attack from Rashid Khan (28 off 16 balls) and Mohammad Nabi (20 off 14 balls) helped Afghanistan cross the 150-run mark. Noor Ahmad swung the final delivery of the innings for six to drag Afghanistan to 159 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Samson and Abhishek Unleash Powerplay Fireworks

Chasing 160 under lights, India turned the contest into a one-sided boundary spree from ball one.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma came out swinging, matching their powerplay output from the first fixture by racking up an identical 82 for 0 inside the first six overs.

Samson put an end to recent form debates with an electrifying display of strokeplay, reaching his half-century off just 20 deliveries. The right-hander struck seven fours and four towering sixes on his way to 57 off 22 balls. At the other end, Abhishek continued his rich vein of form, striking two fours and four maximums in a rapid 39 off 19 deliveries.

Together, the opening pair forged a devastating 88-run opening stand in just 38 balls.

Rashid's Triple Strike Can't Stop the Inevitable

Rashid Khan provided Afghanistan their only bright spot with the ball, picking up three wickets in quick succession.

The Afghan captain had Abhishek caught in the deep in the seventh over, pinned Samson leg-before four balls later, and cleaned up Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer (11 off 11) to finish with 3 for 36.

However, the damage was already done. Ishan Kishan stroked a composed 38 off 23 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, before Tilak Varma (15 not out off 14 balls) drove the winning boundary through midwicket on the penultimate delivery of the 15th over to seal the series.

India crosses the finish line at 163 for 3 with 31 deliveries to spare, wrapping up the bilateral trophy ahead of Thursday's dead rubber at the same venue.

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