Nitish Kumar Reddy’s three‑wicket spell leaves Afghanistan reeling in Delhi

When India won the toss and chose to bowl first in the second T20I against Afghanistan, the expectation was simple: keep the total modest. What unfolded was a tidy blend of disciplined pace, crafty spin and, most noticeably, a three‑wicket burst from the young all‑rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Afghanistan’s opening pair – Rahmanullah Gurbaz and captain Ibrahim Zadran – walked out with plenty of confidence, but the dream was short‑lived. Arshdeep Singh struck early, dismissing Gurbaz for a golden duck, and the pressure began to mount. It was Reddy who then stepped into the spotlight, snaring Zadran’s wicket with a well‑timed delivery that left the batsman edging to the keeper.

Reddy’s spell didn’t stop there. He followed up by trapping Gulbadin Naib in the middle overs, a dismissal that cracked Afghanistan’s middle order. The final blow came when he out‑smarted Rashid Khan, forcing the leg‑spinner out for just 12 runs. In three overs he gave away only 24 runs – a tidy economy that belied the aggression behind each ball.

Supporting him were familiar Indian faces: Arshdeep’s early strike, Jasprit Bumrah’s relentless line, Axar Patel’s steady spin and Ravi Bishnoi’s clever variations. Together they skittled Afghanistan to 159 for 8 in the full quota of twenty overs – a score that, on paper, looked chaseable but proved too steep once the Indian chase began.

India’s reply was built on calm, with Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer guiding the innings. The target was chased down comfortably, and the win by seven wickets added another feather to the series‑winning cap.

Reddy’s three‑wicket haul may not have been the flashiest performance of the match, but it was pivotal. Those wickets came at crucial junctures, turning the tide and ensuring that Afghanistan never got a foothold. For a youngster still carving his place in the side, the spell was a clear statement: he can deliver when the team needs it most.