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The India National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline reflects the journey of a growing cricket rivalry between one of the world’s most successful cricket nations and one of the fastest-rising teams in international cricket. India, winners of the 1983 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cups, the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, have consistently been among the strongest teams across all formats. Afghanistan, which became an ICC Full Member in 2017, has rapidly earned global recognition with its fearless cricket and world-class spin attack. Since their first official international meeting in 2014, the two teams have faced each other in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Test matches, T20 Internationals (T20Is), ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, and the Asia Cup. Cricket stars such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have contributed memorable performances. This article explores the complete timeline, memorable matches, major milestones, head-to-head records, and historic moments between India and Afghanistan.
Match Timeline
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2014 | India and Afghanistan met for the first time in an ODI during the Asia Cup. India won by eight wickets. |
| 2018 | The teams played their first-ever Test match in Bengaluru. India won by an innings and 262 runs. |
| 2018 | India and Afghanistan played a thrilling tie in the Asia Cup Super Four stage. |
| 2021 | India defeated Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a dominant batting performance. |
| 2022 | The teams met in the Asia Cup Super Four, where Virat Kohli scored his first T20I century. |
| 2023 | India defeated Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup league stage in Delhi. |
| 2024 | India hosted Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series and completed a 3–0 series sweep. The final match featured a historic double Super Over. |
| 2025 | Both teams continued competing in ICC tournaments and international cricket. |
Memorable Matches
First International Meeting (2014 Asia Cup)
India and Afghanistan first met during the 2014 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Afghanistan impressed with their fighting spirit, but India comfortably chased the target to register an eight-wicket victory.
Historic First Test (2018)
The first-ever Test match between the two nations took place in Bengaluru in June 2018. Afghanistan became the 12th nation to play Test cricket, but India dominated the match, winning by an innings and 262 runs. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay scored centuries, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja starred with the ball.
Asia Cup Thriller (2018)
One of the most memorable matches in the rivalry came during the 2018 Asia Cup Super Four, where Afghanistan tied the match after an outstanding all-round performance. It remains the only tied ODI between the two teams.
Virat Kohli’s Historic Century (2022 Asia Cup)
During the 2022 Asia Cup, Virat Kohli ended his long international century drought by scoring an unbeaten 122 against Afghanistan. It was also his first T20 International century, helping India post a massive total.
Double Super Over Classic (2024 T20I Series)
The third T20I of the 2024 bilateral series became one of the greatest T20 matches ever played. After the match ended in a tie, the first Super Over also ended level, forcing a second Super Over, where India eventually secured victory to complete a 3–0 series sweep.
Important Milestones
Beginning of the Rivalry
The rivalry officially began during the 2014 Asia Cup, where India won the first ODI meeting.
Afghanistan’s First Test
The 2018 Test match marked Afghanistan’s debut in Test cricket, making it one of the most historic matches in their cricket history.
Only Tied ODI
The 2018 Asia Cup produced the first and only tied ODI between India and Afghanistan.
Virat Kohli’s T20I Century
The 2022 Asia Cup witnessed Virat Kohli’s maiden T20I century, ending nearly three years without an international hundred.
Historic Double Super Over
The 2024 T20I series finale became the first India–Afghanistan match to be decided by a double Super Over, creating a memorable chapter in cricket history.
ICC Tournament Meetings
| Tournament | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2014 Asia Cup | India |
| 2018 Asia Cup Super Four | Match Tied |
| 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | India |
| 2022 Asia Cup | India |
| 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup | India |
India have remained unbeaten against Afghanistan in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup, apart from the famous tied ODI.
Historic Victories
India’s emphatic victory in the 2018 Test match highlighted the experience gap between the teams at that time.
The 2021 T20 World Cup victory featured one of India’s highest totals in the tournament, with explosive batting from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.
The 2022 Asia Cup is remembered for Virat Kohli’s historic unbeaten century.
Although Afghanistan are yet to defeat India in an official international match, they have pushed India to the limit on several occasions, particularly in the 2018 Asia Cup tie and the 2024 double Super Over thriller.
Record-Breaking Performances
| Player | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Unbeaten 122 in the 2022 Asia Cup, first T20I century |
| Rohit Sharma | Consistent run-scorer against Afghanistan |
| Shikhar Dhawan | Century in the inaugural Test match |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Outstanding all-round performances |
| Rashid Khan | Match-winning spells and economical bowling |
| Mohammad Nabi | Valuable all-round contributions |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Consistent top-order batting |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Aggressive opening performances |
These players have produced several memorable moments in the rivalry.
Recent Matches
| Year | Series/Tournament | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ICC & Bilateral Fixtures | Shared Success |
| 2024 | Three-Match T20I Series | India (3–0) |
| 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup | India |
| 2022 | Asia Cup | India |
| 2021 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | India |
Recent encounters show India maintaining the upper hand, although Afghanistan have become increasingly competitive.
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | India Wins | Afghanistan Wins | Draw/Tie/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 1 | India Lead | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 5+ | India Lead | 0 | 1 Tie |
| T20Is | 10+ | India Lead | 0 | Few No Results |
India remain unbeaten against Afghanistan in official international cricket.
Major Records
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| First Official Meeting | Asia Cup (2014) |
| First Test Match | Bengaluru (2018) |
| Only Tied ODI | Asia Cup Super Four (2018) |
| First T20I Century in Rivalry | Virat Kohli (2022) |
| Historic Double Super Over | Third T20I (2024) |
These milestones highlight the rapid growth of Afghanistan cricket and India’s continued excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did India and Afghanistan first play each other?
The two teams first met during the 2014 Asia Cup, where India won by eight wickets.
2. Has Afghanistan ever defeated India in international cricket?
As of 2026, Afghanistan have not defeated India in an official international match, although they tied an ODI in the 2018 Asia Cup.
3. Why is the 2018 Test match significant?
It was Afghanistan’s first-ever Test match, marking their debut in the longest format of the game.
4. What is the most memorable match between India and Afghanistan?
The third T20I in 2024, decided by a historic double Super Over, is widely regarded as the most thrilling contest between the two teams.
5. Which players have dominated this rivalry?
Key performers include Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Final Thoughts
The India National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline demonstrates how a relatively new rivalry has already produced several unforgettable moments. From their first meeting in 2014 to Afghanistan’s historic Test debut in 2018, the tied Asia Cup clash, Virat Kohli’s memorable T20I century in 2022, and the thrilling double Super Over in 2024, every encounter has added excitement to international cricket. While India continue to dominate the head-to-head record, Afghanistan have consistently improved and emerged as one of the most dangerous teams in world cricket. As both sides continue to compete in ICC tournaments and bilateral series, fans can expect many more memorable chapters in this fascinating rivalry.
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