Abhishek blitz powers India to T20 win over Afghanistan

Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 from just 32 balls as India hammered Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first T20 international in New Delhi on Sunday.

Chasing 157 for victory, India rode on Abhishek's blitz, which included seven sixes and seven fours, to achieve the target in 13.4 overs and lead the three-match series 1-0.

Abhishek got his first runs with a six off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening over and there was no looking back for the swashbuckling left-handed batter.

He lost opening partner Sanju Samson for 10 but kept up the charge with a flurry of fours and sixes to raise his fifty off 22 balls.

Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who made 42, put on 121 runs as the pair tore into the opposition attack to raise the noise of over 25,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

"The shots Abhishek played were flawless, exemplary," said India captain Shreyas Iyer.

"Kishan has been in great form. He's very relaxed, calm and knows his game."

Abhishek fell to off-spinner Mohammad Nabi as Rashid Khan took a good catch in the deep.

Nabi soon sent back Kishan before Tilak Varma (3) and Iyer (8) saw the team home.

India's left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh set up victory with figures of 3-19 in his four overs as he helped restrict Afghanistan to 156-8.

Put in to bat, Afghanistan slipped to 43-5 before Azmatullah Omarzai hit an unbeaten 64.

Returning pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah started with a wide down the leg side for five extras but struck on the second legal delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught at first slip.

Iyer praised Bumrah, calling the pace spearhead, who returned to the team after an injury in the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, a "great asset".

Skipper Ibrahim Zadran attempted to hit back with two fours but was soon run out for 11 after a mix up with Sediqullah Atal to give India the upper hand.

"I would say that run out was the turning point," said Zadran. "Ishan Kishan grabbed the ball and threw it to the bowler. They got the momentum."

Wickets kept tumbling as spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took one each as Afghanistan lost half their side in seven overs.

Omarzai, who survived a dropped catch on 39, and Nabi (33) then combined to rebuild the innings with a partnership of 83.

Arshdeep broke the stand as he bowled Nabi off a slower yorker.

Omarzai stuck around until the end as Afghanistan got 21 runs off the last over from Shivam Dube but it was not enough against the reigning T20 world champions.

Afghanistan, who have long used India and the United Arab Emirates as home venues, are the official hosts for the series.