Aoba Tanaka 
Shivam Dube plays a shot | AP
In a thrilling opening T20I at Mohali, India displayed a dominant batting performance to chase down Afghanistan’s modest total of 158 with six wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare. Shivam Dube played a pivotal role in India’s successful chase, scoring an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls.
Afghanistan struggled to capitalize on a good batting surface during the powerplay, scoring only 33 runs without losing a wicket. Despite a 50-run partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan found themselves in a challenging position after losing quick wickets.
Veteran Mohammad Nabi played a crucial role in reviving Afghanistan’s innings, smashing 42 runs off 27 balls. His aggressive partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai added 68 runs in quick succession, providing Afghanistan with a platform to reach a competitive total.
Mukesh Kumar’s late spell proved crucial for India as he dismissed set batters Omarzai and Nabi in successive overs. Despite some late cameos from Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat, Afghanistan finished with a total of 158.
India faced an early setback as captain Rohit Sharma fell victim to a mix-up with Shubman Gill, resulting in a run-out. However, aggressive play from Shivam Dube (60* off 40) and Tilak Verma (26 off 22) steadied the ship. Jitesh Sharma’s quickfire 31 and a solid 42-run partnership with Rinku Singh ensured India’s victory.
Key Performers:
Shivam Dube: Unbeaten 60 off 40 balls.
Jitesh Sharma: Contributed 31 runs in a crucial middle-order partnership.
Mukesh Kumar: Took 2 wickets in an impactful final spell.
India’s win in the opening T20I sets the tone for an exciting series against Afghanistan, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience in the face of challenges. The second T20I promises more thrilling action as both teams vie for supremacy.
