As India wrapped up the Afghanistan T20I series with a dominant 3-0 victory, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Director Shyam Sunder remarked that hosting the India-Afghanistan T20I match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi was an exceptional experience.
He stated that the Afghanistan Cricket Board and team commended the facilities and pitch, while the Delhi spectators enthusiastically applauded strong performances from both bowling and batting sides. Sunder also gave credit to ICC chairman Jay Shah for his vision in advancing Afghan cricket and cricket throughout associate nations, noting that these efforts are now yielding results.
NDTV Sports quotes Sunder saying, “We were hosting a match at our own stadium for the first time, and it was a great experience. We tried to provide excellent facilities, and the entire Afghanistan Cricket Board and their team were happy and full of praise. They particularly praised our pitch, which was very gratifying… It wasn’t just the Afghan fans; the Delhi crowd appreciated good bowling and batting alike, applauding enthusiastically. There was no sense of discrimination regarding the visiting team; the atmosphere was fantastic.”
The DDCA director’s comments noted that the Afghanistan delegation welcomed the facilities and pitch conditions offered during the series. The quality of the pitch received special praise from the visiting team, a point Sunder highlighted as particularly significant for the board’s hosting efforts.
DCDA director Ashok Sharma added, “It is a matter of great joy that India won the series. After losing the previous two series, a victory brings happiness to the entire nation. Since the DDCA served as the host, the series went very well; the Afghanistan management will surely take back the experience and share with their country how India embodies the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (treating the guest as God). We have invited them to return, assuring them that whenever they need support to promote Afghanistan cricket in Delhi, the DDCA, through the BCCI, will always stand by them.”
India clinched a 3-0 series victory over Afghanistan with a commanding 127-run win in the third and final T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday. Batting first, India set a strong total of 221 for 7, propelled by Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 108 off just 34 balls, a personal best.
