India and Afghanistan will meet in the quarter-final of the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket tournament on September 28 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. India entered the knockout stage directly as one of the four seeded teams, while Afghanistan reached the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group A. The matchup also comes shortly after a three-match T20I series between the sides in Delhi, where India completed a 3-0 sweep. The recent series has added another layer to the India vs Afghanistan head to head record, which has been heavily in India’s favour. Afghanistan will now look to change that record in an Asian Games knockout match.
India vs Afghanistan Head to Head Record in T20Is
India and Afghanistan have played 12 men’s T20Is, according to the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. India have won 10 of those matches, while Afghanistan have not recorded a T20I win against India. One match ended in a tie and another produced no result. This gives India a clear statistical advantage in the overall India vs Afghanistan head to head record. However, the numbers cover matches played in different series and conditions, so they do not determine what will happen in the Asian Games quarter-final. The latest meetings have also come very recently, with India winning all three T20Is in September 2026.
India Leads the T20I H2H 10-0
India have won 10 of the 12 T20Is played between the two teams. Afghanistan have no T20I victory over India, while one match was tied and another ended without a result. The record covers their meetings through September 17, 2026. India’s advantage is therefore clear in terms of completed wins, but the record does not mean the Asian Games quarter-final will follow the same pattern. The match will be played at a different venue and under knockout conditions, giving Afghanistan another opportunity to change the history between the teams.
One Match Was Tied and One Had No Result
The India vs Afghanistan T20I record contains two results that do not fit either team’s win column. India have 10 wins, Afghanistan have none, one match ended in a tie and another was abandoned without a result. The tied contest was decided through a Super Over, adding an unusual chapter to the rivalry. The no-result match also means the teams have played 12 T20Is but have only 11 completed matches with a winner or tied outcome. These results are important when presenting the complete H2H.
India vs Afghanistan Past T20I Meetings
The recent India-Afghanistan rivalry has been particularly relevant because the teams met three times shortly before the Asian Games. India hosted Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in Delhi in September 2026 and won all three games. India took the first match by seven wickets and repeated that margin in the second T20I before producing a much larger 127-run victory in the third match. The series gave both teams recent experience of facing each other, while India’s clean sweep further extended their advantage in the overall T20I record. Afghanistan will now have to deal with another meeting only days after that series.
India Won the September 2026 T20I Series 3-0
India completed a 3-0 series win over Afghanistan in September 2026. The first T20I ended with India winning by seven wickets, while the second also produced a seven-wicket victory for the hosts. India then won the third match by 127 runs in a much more one-sided contest. The three results gave India a clean sweep immediately before the Asian Games quarter-final. They also provided the most recent competitive evidence of how the two teams matched up before arriving at the Asian Games.
Abhishek Sharma Scored 108 in the Third T20I
Abhishek Sharma produced the standout performance of the three-match series in the third T20I. He smashed 108 runs from only 34 balls as India posted 221/7. His innings included 11 sixes and became one of the major talking points from the series. Afghanistan were then dismissed for 94, giving India a 127-run victory and completing the 3-0 sweep. The performance also gave Abhishek strong recent numbers against the same opposition before the Asian Games quarter-final.
India vs Afghanistan Asian Games 2023 Final History
India and Afghanistan also met in the men’s cricket final at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. That match did not produce a conventional result because persistent rain stopped Afghanistan’s innings after 18.2 overs. Afghanistan were 112/5 when play ended, and the match could not restart. India were subsequently awarded the gold medal because they had the higher seeding. Afghanistan received silver. The 2023 final therefore remains an unusual part of the India vs Afghanistan Asian Games history, with neither side completing a full innings in the final.
India Won Gold After the 2023 Final Was Abandoned
The 2023 Asian Games final between India and Afghanistan was abandoned because of rain. Afghanistan had reached 112/5 after 18.2 overs when the weather stopped play, and there was no restart. Under the tournament rules, India were declared the winners because they held the higher seeding. India therefore took the gold medal, while Afghanistan received silver. The result was different from a normal completed final, making the 2023 meeting a unique part of the teams’ Asian Games history.
Afghanistan Were 112/5 When Rain Ended the Contest
Afghanistan had reached 112/5 after 18.2 overs when rain brought the 2023 Asian Games final to an early end. Shahidullah Kamal was unbeaten on 49, while Gulbadin Naib was not out on 27. India had taken five wickets before the weather interruption ended the contest. With conditions preventing the match from restarting, the final was abandoned and India received gold as the higher-seeded team. The score of 112/5 therefore remains the final completed score from Afghanistan’s innings in that Asian Games final.
Afghanistan’s Road to the 2026 Quarter-Final
Afghanistan reached the 2026 Asian Games quarter-final after finishing second in Group A. They began their campaign with a 48-run win over Japan but then suffered a five-wicket defeat against Nepal. The results left Afghanistan behind Nepal in the group standings, but they still secured a place in the knockout stage. Their group campaign therefore contained both a strong opening performance and a setback in their second match. The second-place finish set up the quarter-final against India, who had entered the tournament directly at the knockout stage.
Afghanistan Beat Japan by 48 Runs
Afghanistan began their Asian Games campaign with a 48-run victory over Japan. They scored 129/6 before bowling Japan out for 81. The result gave Afghanistan two points from their opening match and provided a positive start to their Group A campaign. The 48-run margin also gave them a strong opening result before their second group match against Nepal. Afghanistan eventually finished second in the group and moved into the quarter-final against India.
Nepal Beat Afghanistan by Five Wickets
Afghanistan’s second Group A match ended in a five-wicket defeat against Nepal. Afghanistan made 102/7, but Nepal chased the target successfully, reaching 103/5 in 17.2 overs. The result moved Nepal ahead of Afghanistan in the group standings and left Afghanistan in second place. That second-place finish was enough to take Afghanistan into the quarter-finals, where they were drawn against India. The Nepal defeat therefore shaped Afghanistan’s route into the knockout stage.
India’s Position Before the Asian Games Quarter-Final
India did not need to play in the preliminary group stage of the men’s Asian Games cricket competition. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were the four seeded Full Member teams and received direct entry into the quarter-finals. India also entered the tournament as the defending Asian Games champions after winning gold in Hangzhou in 2023. Afghanistan, meanwhile, had to go through the group stage before securing their quarter-final place. The different routes mean India arrive at the knockout stage without a group match in the tournament, while Afghanistan have already played two matches.
India Enters Directly at the Quarter-Final Stage
The 10-team men’s competition includes six preliminary teams divided across two groups. The four seeded Full Member sides receive direct quarter-final berths. India were one of those four teams, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This structure meant India avoided the preliminary group stage and entered the competition at the quarter-final stage. Afghanistan had to compete in Group A and finished second behind Nepal to secure their knockout place.
Shreyas Iyer Leads India’s Asian Games Squad
Shreyas Iyer captains India’s Asian Games squad. The team also includes experienced international T20 players such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. These players give India a squad with recent international experience heading into the quarter-final. The presence of several established names also adds context to India’s direct entry into the knockout stage. The final playing combination, however, should not be assumed from the wider squad list.
Key Players in India vs Afghanistan Head to Head
The recent meetings between India and Afghanistan have highlighted several players who could be important in the quarter-final. Abhishek Sharma produced a major innings in the latest T20I, while Jasprit Bumrah remains an important part of India’s bowling group. Afghanistan also have established T20 players who can influence a match through either their batting or bowling. Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are among the experienced names in Afghanistan’s batting group. Their performances could be important as Afghanistan looks to produce a different result from the recent bilateral series.
Abhishek Sharma Is Coming Off a Record-Breaking Knock
Abhishek Sharma enters the Asian Games quarter-final after scoring 108 from 34 balls against Afghanistan in the third T20I. His innings included 11 sixes and helped India reach 221/7 in Delhi. He then saw India bowl Afghanistan out for 94 as the hosts completed a 127-run victory. The performance is the most recent major individual contribution in the matchup and makes Abhishek one of the key recent performers in India vs Afghanistan cricket.
Afghanistan’s Batting Unit Has Match-Winning Options
Afghanistan’s batting group contains several established T20 players who can change a match quickly. Azmatullah Omarzai showed his ability against India during the September series by scoring an unbeaten 64 in the first T20I. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz also provide experience in Afghanistan’s batting unit. While India won all three matches in the recent series, Afghanistan’s batting line-up has players capable of producing large scores or important individual innings in a knockout match.
India vs Afghanistan H2H Batting and Bowling Records
The H2H numbers include several notable team scores. Afghanistan’s highest T20I total against India is 212/6, while India recently reached 221/7 in the third T20I of the September 2026 series. The latter is the latest high-scoring benchmark between the sides. The two totals also show that Afghanistan have previously been able to score heavily against India, even though they have not won a T20I against them. The head-to-head record therefore contains both India’s overall advantage and evidence of Afghanistan’s ability to produce competitive batting performances.
Afghanistan’s Highest T20I Total Against India Is 212/6
Afghanistan’s highest T20I total against India is 212/6. They reached that score in Bengaluru during the 2023-24 series, with Gulbadin Naib producing a rapid 55 from 23 balls. The score remains Afghanistan’s highest team total in their T20I meetings with India. Although Afghanistan did not convert that performance into a T20I victory, the innings remains an important statistical marker in the head-to-head record.
India’s Recent 221/7 Is the Latest High-Scoring Benchmark
India’s latest T20I against Afghanistan produced a score of 221/7 in Delhi. Abhishek Sharma made 108 from 34 balls, while Sanju Samson added 50 from 35 deliveries. India then dismissed Afghanistan for 94 to win by 127 runs. The 221/7 total is the most recent high-scoring benchmark in the rivalry and came only shortly before the teams’ Asian Games quarter-final.
India vs Afghanistan Asian Games 2026 Quarter-Final Details
India and Afghanistan are scheduled to meet in the second men’s quarter-final of the Asian Games 2026 cricket tournament on September 28. The match is set to take place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, with the start scheduled for 10:00 AM IST. India entered directly at this stage as a seeded team, while Afghanistan qualified after finishing second in Group A. The winner will progress to the semi-finals, making this a direct knockout contest. Weather conditions around Nisshin are also relevant because rain could affect the match and the tournament’s knockout rules.
Korogi Sports Park Hosts the Quarter-Final
Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin will host the India-Afghanistan quarter-final. The venue is being used for the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026. India and Afghanistan will play the second quarter-final, with the winner moving into the semi-finals. The match is scheduled for September 28 at 10:00 AM IST, giving both teams a direct route to the final four.
Rain Could Affect the Knockout Scenario
Rain was forecast around Nisshin during the Asian Games cricket competition, making weather an important factor for the knockout stage. A complete washout would have tournament consequences because India entered the quarter-final as the higher-seeded team. Under the stated knockout rules, a washout would send India through to the semi-finals. The weather therefore adds another practical consideration to the India-Afghanistan quarter-final.
India vs Afghanistan Head to Head Key Numbers
India and Afghanistan have played 12 men’s T20Is, with India winning 10 and Afghanistan winning none. One match ended in a tie and one produced no result. India also won the September 2026 bilateral series 3-0, taking the first two matches by seven wickets and the third by 127 runs. The teams previously met in the 2023 Asian Games final, where rain ended Afghanistan’s innings at 112/5 and India received gold through higher seeding. These numbers provide the main statistical context before the 2026 quarter-final.
What the H2H Record Means Before the Asian Games Quarter-Final
The India vs Afghanistan head to head record gives India a clear historical advantage, with 10 T20I wins from 12 meetings and no completed T20I victory for Afghanistan. India have also won the three most recent bilateral matches. However, those figures describe past matches rather than the outcome of the Asian Games quarter-final. The knockout match will be played at a different venue and under a different tournament structure. Afghanistan’s route through the group stage also gives them recent match experience in the Asian Games, while India enter directly at the quarter-final stage.
Conclusion
India leads the India vs Afghanistan head to head record with 10 wins from 12 men’s T20Is, while Afghanistan have yet to beat India in the format. One match was tied and another ended without a result. India also completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep in September 2026, while their previous Asian Games meeting in 2023 ended with India receiving gold after rain stopped the final. Afghanistan reached the 2026 quarter-final after finishing second in Group A. The September 28 knockout match at Korogi Sports Park will therefore add another chapter to a long-running T20I rivalry.
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