India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Highlights: Shivam Dube's half-century powers Men in Blue to six-wicket win
India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Highlights: Shivam Dube's half-century powers Men in Blue to six-wicket win
22:35 (IST)
That's all we have for you from this game. India were the favourites to win this contest even before it started, but they had to sweat hard initially in the chase before Dube sealed the deal. The Men in Blue have just two more T20Is before the T20 World Cup in June, and while their sights will be set on clinching the series, more importantly it will be on finalising that potentially match-winning team combination. For now, this is Vishnu signing off on behalf of my colleagues at Firstpost. Goodbye and good night!
22:30 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Shivam Dube is the Player of the Match for his figures of 1/9 and an unbeaten 60
22:14 (IST)
After 17.3 overs,India 159/4 ( Shivam Dube 60 , Rinku Singh 16)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
GAME OVER! Shivam Dube is definitely the star of this match as he seals India's win with a boundary. India beat Afghanistan by six wickets in Mohali to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Dube finishes with an unbeaten 60, with Rinku Singh (16*) unbeaten at the other end.
22:04 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FIFTY! What a commendable half-century for Shivam Dube. A calm, composed knock from the all-rounder as he makes a strong case for the T20 World Cup.
22:01 (IST)
After 16 overs,India 140/4 ( Shivam Dube 48 , Rinku Singh 9)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Naveen continues. Nine runs off the over, including a boundary off Shivam Dube in the first ball;. Dube has played brilliantly so far, and India are just a matter of a few boundaries away from victory.
21:59 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FOUR! Back of a length delivery from Naveen, and Shjivam Dube reads this ball quite accurately to pull it over from of square region.
21:54 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Mujeeb dismisses Jitesh Sharma. Another one bites the dust, and India lose their fourth wicket. Jitesh is caught by Ibrahim Zadran at long-on. Jitesh Sharma c Ibrahim Zadran b Mujeeb 31
21:46 (IST)
After 13 overs,India 112/3 ( Shivam Dube 34 , Jitesh Sharma (W) 27)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Omarzai bowls his penultimate over, and 10 runs come off it. Jitesh Sharma clears backward square leg to collect a boundary off the first ball. India need 47 runs off 42 balls.
21:43 (IST)
After 12 overs,India 102/3 ( Shivam Dube 33 , Jitesh Sharma (W) 18)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Gulbadin Naib is into the attack and 12 runs come off his first over, including a boundsary each from Dube and Jitesh. India seem to be on track at the moment despite the loss of Tilak Varma, and Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be looking for quick wickets before it's too late.
21:39 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FOUR! A slow, back of length ball from Gulbadin, and Shivam Dube takes this opportunity to spank it between extra-cover and mid-off.
21:33 (IST)
After 10 overs,India 83/3 ( Shivam Dube 26 , Jitesh Sharma (W) 6)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Halfway through the chase and the match is evenly poised at the moment. India need another 76 runs to win from 60 deliveries, but a consistent partnership is crucial. Nine runs come off Naveen's over, including a boundary from Jitesh in the third ball.
21:26 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Just when we thought India were right back on track, the Men in Blue have lost yet another wicket. This time, it's Tilak Varma, who is caught by Gulbadin Naib. Tilak was looking to clear backward square leg but falls short miserably. Tilak Varma c Gulbadin b Azmatullah 26
21:20 (IST)
After 8 overs,India 66/2 ( Tilak Varma 21 , Shivam Dube 20)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Naveen-ul-Haq continues. He's punished in this over as Tilak collects a couple of boundaries, including a six over long-leg region. After a rather shaky start, boundaries are flowing in for the hosts as 14 runs come from the over.
21:18 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
SIX! A brilliant shot from Tilak Varma. Short ball from Naveen, Tilak positions himself well, uses his wrists brillianly, and slams this over long-leg.
21:12 (IST)
After 6 overs,India 36/2 ( Tilak Varma 7 , Shivam Dube 6)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Mujeeb Ur Rahman continues. He's been impressive so far, including the wicket of Shubman Gill, and this time, he delivers a maiden over. Afghanistan have done decently well to put early pressure on India.
21:07 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! India lose their second wicket as Shubman Gill departs. Facing Mujeeb, Gill was looking to come down the track and played for the swing, but missed it and Gurbaz did the restbehind the wickets with the stumping. Shubman Gill st Gurbaz b Mujeeb 23
21:03 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
After 3 overs,India 19/1 ( Shubman Gill 15 , Tilak Varma 4)
FOUR! Second boundary for Gill in a space of three deliveries, with Gill taking a couple of steps down the track and slapping a short-of-length ball through point. He collects an extra run in the following delivery after the ball takes a deflection off his bat at the non-striker’s end, and runs all the way towards the cow corner fence. 11 off the over. India starting to fight back after the shaky start.
20:59 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FOUR! Slightly short from Farooqi, and Gill gets on the backfoot and goes for a short-arm pull towards the midwicket fence, with the ball beats the fielding diving to his left. IND 13/1
20:56 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
After 2 overs,India 8/1 ( Shubman Gill 5 , Tilak Varma 3)
Spin from the other end with Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowling the second over. He’s off to a tidy start with just three singles collected in the over.
20:55 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
After 1 over,India 5/1 ( Shubman Gill 4 , Tilak Varma 1)
India are off to a forgettable start after Rohit Sharma gets into a horrible mix-up with Shubman Gill, and ends up getting run out for a two-ball duck in his first T20I appearance in over a year. Tilak Varma bats at No 3, and gets off the mark right away with a single. FOUR! Shubman Gill gets off the mark in style with a boundary straight down the ground.
20:51 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Rohit Sharma's has a forgettable return to Twenty20 Internationals, getting run-out for a duck in the second delivery of the Indian chase! And boy is he furious with his opening partner Shubman Gill, who was stranded at the non-striker's end with his attention focused on the ball even as Rohit sprinted down the track and comfortable reached the opposite end. He storms off towards the dressing room, as Afghanistan strike early after posting a competitive total on the board. IND 0/1
Rohit run out (Zadran/Gurbaz) 0(2)
20:47 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Fazalhaq Farooqi will start the proceedings with the ball in hand as Rohit Sharma takes strike for the first over of India’s chase of the 159-run target. Can the ‘Hitman’ return to T20Is in style? Stay tuned to find out.
20:38 (IST)
After 20 overs,Afghanistan 158/5 ( Najibullah Zadran 19 , Karim Janat 9)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Arshdeep bowls the final over of the innings. 15 runs come off the final over of the innings, including three boundaries from Najibullah Zadran. Afghanistan finish with a total of 158/5, but would feel they are 20-30 runs short given the start they had. Mukesh and Axar with two wickets each and Dube with one wicket. India need 159 runs to win. Don't go anywhere. The chase is coming up shortly.
20:34 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FOUR! A yorker from Arshdeep Singh in the last ball of the innings, but Najibullah flicks through the leg side, finding the gap through backward square leg fence.
20:30 (IST)
After 19 overs,Afghanistan 143/5 ( Najibullah Zadran 6 , Karim Janat 8)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Washington Sundar is in for his final over of the contest. 13 runs come off it, including a couple of boundaries from Karim Janat and one from Najibullah Zadran. Afghanistan looking for a score of 150-plus here.
20:26 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Mukesh Kumar strikes again. He gets rid of Mohammad Nabi this time, who goes over point but finds Rinku Singh with the catch at sweeper cover. Nabi c Rinku Singh b Mukesh Kumar 42
20:19 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Partnership broken. And this time it's Mukesh Kumar who strikes. Length ball outside off, Azmatullah looks to carve through the off-side but is eventually chopped on. Azmatullah b Mukesh Kumar 29
20:12 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
SIX! Another one! Short again from Mukesh, and Nabi pulls this one over midwicket. Boundaries are flowing for the Afghans and India are in need of a breakthrough again.
20:11 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
SIX! Another maximum from Nabi. Short ball from Mukesh Kumar and Nabi slams this over extra-cover region with full force.
20:08 (IST)
After 15 overs,Afghanistan 105/3 ( Azmatullah Omarzai 26 , Mohammad Nabi 25)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Ravi Bishnoi continues. He is punished for a couple of boundaries from Mohammad Nabi as well as a powerful slog sweep from Azmsatullah that went for a six. 16 runs off the over.
20:03 (IST)
After 14 overs,Afghanistan 89/3 ( Azmatullah Omarzai 19 , Mohammad Nabi 16)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Axar Patel finishes with figures of 2/23. He would be happy with how things have turned out for him in this contest. Two timely wickets in the form of Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah means Axar finishes with impressive figures in this T20I. Six off his final over.
19:59 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
SIX! Full ball on the stumps from Bishnoi, and Mohammad Nabi powers this over long-on for a maximum.
19:55 (IST)
After 12 overs,Afghanistan 72/3 ( Azmatullah Omarzai 14 , Mohammad Nabi 4)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Shivam Dube returns. Rohit Sharma drops what could have been a stunning one-handed catch at short cover. It was a confident drive from Azmatullah, and Rohit went for it, but his efforts went in vain. Seven off the over.
19:50 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Axar Patel has his second wicket. He's got debutant Rahmat Shah this time, cleaning him up with a flat delivery. Rahmat b Axar 3
19:43 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! Shivam Dube with the second wicket for India. And just like that, both openers are back in the hut after Zadran's dismissal. This is brilliant stuff from Dube, who comes up with a back of a length ball. But, Zadran could not get enough elevation on the shot and he is eventually caught by Rohit at cover. Ibrahim Zadran c Rohit b Shivam Dube 25
19:39 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
OUT! There's the breakthrough that India needed. Axar Patel removes Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Gurbaz plays this across the line but misses it, and Jitesh Sharma does the rest by stumping him. Gurbaz st Jitesh Sharma b Axar 23
19:33 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
SIX! The first maximum of the evening comes from Ibrahim Zadran, who uses his bottom-hand well to whip over midwicket region.
19:30 (IST)
After 6 overs,Afghanistan 33/0 ( Rahmanullah Gurbaz (W) 15 , Ibrahim Zadran (C) 16)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Mukesh Kumar returns to the attack. He begins with a full length ball at off stump as Zadran races towards a quick single. Another opportunity lost for India as a miscued pull from Zadran just falls short of Rohit at cover. Zadran finishes the powerplay with a boundary towards third man.
19:25 (IST)
After 5 overs,Afghanistan 25/0 ( Rahmanullah Gurbaz (W) 13 , Ibrahim Zadran (C) 10)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Right. It's spin from both ends now as Washington Sundar is introduced. There's an appeal against Gurbaz for LBW, but the umpire doesn't seem interested. Seems like it's ended up going down the leg side. Four off the over.
19:21 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FOUR! Ibrahim Zadran with his first boundary. It's a full length ball from Axar, Zadran opens the bat face to eventually smash past backward point.
19:19 (IST)
After 3 overs,Afghanistan 14/0 ( Rahmanullah Gurbaz (W) 11 , Ibrahim Zadran (C) 2)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Arshdeep continues. Seven runs come off the over, and India lose an early chance for a breakthrough. Shivam Dube was fielding at mid-off when Zadran came up with a mistimed drive. Dube did his best by diving for the catch but could not hang on to it.
19:13 (IST)
After 2 overs,Afghanistan 7/0 ( Rahmanullah Gurbaz (W) 5 , Ibrahim Zadran (C) 1)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Mukesh Kumar is introduced to the attack from the other end. Afghanistan are off the mark with a single off Zadran. Gurbaz, on the other hand, colects the first boundary of the series by finding the gap between midwicket and long-on. Five off the over.
19:11 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
FOUR! The first boundary of the evening comes from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. He finds the gap between midwicket and long-on.
19:08 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
After 1 over, Afghanistan 0/0 (Ibrahim Zadran 0*, Gurbaz 0*)
Arshdeep Singh is into the attack for India first up. He begins with a full length, inswinging ball to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who leaves it alone. He finishes the over with a yorker, good start by Arshdeep as he begins with a maiden over.
19:04 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
18:51 (IST)
Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma(Captain), Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
18:42 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Yashasvi Jaiswal misses out due to a "sore right groin"
UPDATE: Mr Yashasvi Jaiswal was unavailable for selection for the first T20I due to a sore right groin.#INDvAFG— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2024
18:33 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
Toss update: India have won the toss in Mohali and Rohit Sharma says the hosts will field first against Afghanistan. Sanju Samson, Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Yadav miss out on the playing XI. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was to open with Rohit today, also misses out after having not pulled off well.
18:30 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
"I don't think there will be any dew", says Nick Knight at the pitch report, suggesting that it's batting first pitch. Deep Dasgupta, however, feels otherwise, saying that it's a bowling first pitch.
18:28 (IST)
India vs Afghanistan LIVE
LIVE visuals show that Jitesh Sharma has his gloves on while Sanju Samson doesn't have so. We'll get to know who's playing and who's not shortly when the toss takes place in less than five minutes
Preview: Team India will look to get their combinations right when they take on Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series starting in Mohali on Thursday. This series will provide India the final opportunity to impress as a unit before the 2024 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in West Indies and United States of America in June.
Post this series, India will shift their focus to a five-match Test series against England, that will be followed by the Indian Premier League (IPL) in March. This means that the time is running out for the team management to finalise the team combinations for the World Cup.
The biggest talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series is the return of veteran duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The duo returns to the T20I side for the first time since India’s semi-final defeat to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup Down Under, and this time around, Rohit will lead the side against Afghans.
Kohli, however, will miss the first T20I in Mohali due to personal reasons. Despite the return of the two veterans, the Men in Blue lacks balance in the side in the absence of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, who are out with respective injuries. While Hardik has not played competitive cricket since sustaining an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup last year, Suryakumar has been diagnosed with a sports hernia and will reportedly undergo a surgery in Germany.
As far as India’s opening combination is concerned, head coach Rahul Dravid said the hosts will open with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. This could mean Shubman Gill sits out should India include Shivam Dube and Axar Patel to bolster their bowling attack. Apart from Kohli, Tilak Varma is also a candidate to take the No 3 batters’ spot.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, will miss the services of Rashid Khan for the entire series. Rashid was in the squad to face India amid undergoing a lower-back surgery following the ODI World Cup but has been ruled out of the series. “He is not totally fit. We will miss him in the series. We will struggle without Rashid but one should be ready for any kind of situation,” Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran said at the pre-match press conference.
This could mean that task could be cut out for spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who wasn’t part of the squad that played Afghanistan’s last T20I series in UAE. There will be focus on leg-spinner Qais Ahmed as well, who was in fine form in UAE having taken six wickets from three matches.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan.
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