India defeated Afghanistan by 7 wickets (with 38 balls remaining) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi to open the 1st T20I of the series. Afghanistan's Innings (156/8): Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan's recovery from a collapse of 43/5, scoring 64 runs—including a 21-run final over off Shivam Dube—to help them reach 156. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy both made successful returns from injury. Arshdeep Singh spearheaded the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 19, while Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with crucial middle-order wickets. India's Innings (157/3 in 13.4 overs): However, Abhishek, having endured a run of low scores in his last six matches, made sure there were no hiccups in the small chase. His six-hitting began with one over cover off Fazalhaq Farooqi, then progressed straighter to long-off off Omarzai, moved to midwicket off Farooqi and finished its first cycle at square leg off Rashid Khan. Back he went over long-on, over cover, over square leg, and ended up with 82 runs off just 32 balls. Himself in good form, Ishan Kishan was at times reduced to being just a spectator, scoring just 35 in a 121-run second-wicket partnership. Kishan fell for 42 off 33, trying to hit his second six, as the wicketless Rashid slowed India's victory march with two excellent boundary catches. Abhishek Sharma blazed through the target with a match-winning 82 off just 32 balls, striking boundaries all around the ground. Ishan Kishan supported the chase with 42 off 33, sharing a 121-run partnership for the second wicket to wrap up the match with 38 balls to spare.