The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
A win in the series opener will surely boost the confidence of this new-look T20 side. The caravan now moves to Indore, where these two sides will lock horns on Sunday. This is Lavil Saldanha alongside Pradeep signing off, do check our live coverage of the match between MI Cape Town and Durban's SuperGiants. Till then, take care of yourselves and we will catch up with you sometime soon. SEE YA!
Shivam Dube (Player of the match: 60(40) and 1/9 [2 overs]): I think it was really cold but I enjoyed playing here. Batting at number 4, the pressure was on but then I knew I had to play my game. Probably from my side, I felt the pressure initially but then I carried on. I know I have the potential to hit sixes and change the game. Spoke to Rohit, and he said that I played and will discuss more about the innings. Today, I got the chance to bowl and execute the plans that were set.
Rohit Sharma (India captain): I'm okay, when the ball hits the tip of the finger it always gets sore. I went inside to find the hot water bag and now it is better. It wasn't the easiest of the conditions, the spinners did a good job and so did the fast bowler. (On run out) These things happen, and when it happens you feel frustrated. When you're out there you want to win it for the team. Wanted Gill to stay till the end and win. Dube and Rinku batted well. We want to bowl our bowlers in different parts of the game. We want to challenge ourselves, keeping all of them in mind, we will be trying all of this, but not at the cost of the game. All in all, it was a good game of cricket
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan captain): We were short at least 30 or 40 runs, we lost the toss unfortunately but the boys fought hard till the end. We were trying to get a start in the powerplay, me and Gurbaz, we lost wicket at the wrong time, one of us had to get going but we lost back to back wickets. We were under the pressure with new batters coming in. In the second innings there was a bit dew, gripping the ball was difficult and struggled with the bat, but bowlers did pretty well. We will try and improve on the fielding, we were quite lazy and also in the batting department, bowling we're good.
Rinku Singh: It has become a habit of staying not out and enjoying playing at number 6. It was quite fun in the cold, getting hurt while fielding but was enjoying all the while. I always try to talk to myself, whatever can happen and might need more runs, always try to keep my cool. Talked with Mahi bhai in the last IPL on how he keeps his calm, he suggested to always stay in the moment and I always follow that now. I won't try to think much, just react to how the ball comes at you, that's it.
India win by 6 wickets and lead the 3-match T20I series 1 - 0
A comprehensive victory for India and they have reigned victorious over the talented Afghan bowling unit. India had a hiccup in the start as they lost an early wicket in the form of Rohit Sharma's run out. Hometown hero, Shubhman Gill played a couple of shots but his innings was cut short, thanks to some good bowling from Mujeeb, coupled with excellent glovework from Gurbaz.
Tilak Varma found himself out in the middle relatively early. He struggled for timing initially but then managed to get a couple of boundaries under his belt. He was dismissed soon as Gulbadin Naib plucked a catch out of the thin and cold air of Mohali. Jitesh played an impactful knock but could not make a substantial score as he tried to shift from the 4th to the 5th gear.
One man who held his own with the bat in hand was Shivam Dube. The Mumbai southpaw looked undeterred and ever so composed, leading the side with the bat in hand. He was a bit slow to get off the blocks but then stitched crucial partnerships, first with Jitesh and then with Rinku and helped India chase the total down with 15 balls to spare.
Afghanistan's target defence can be divided into two halves. Led by Mujeeb, the bowling attack had a bit and finished the last over of the powerplay with a maiden. They chipped in with regular wickets and ensured that they made life tough for the Indian batters. In the second half, they looked toothless as they deviated from their plans and in then end, were taken to the cleaners by the Indian batters.
Mujeeb was the star with the ball in hand as he did well in his 4 overs to contain the batters. Azmatullah Omarzai was the only other bowler who provided some sort of assistance to Mujeeb. Naveen Ul Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi didn't look threatening and their fielding, barring the first over run out, was pretty substandard as well.
Lets now hear what the captains and the player of the match has to say.
17.3 Naveen-ul-Haq to Shivam Dube, FOUR! GAME, SET AND MATCH! India win and take a 1-0 unassailable lead in this 3 match T20I series. Bangs in the short delivery into Dube, he's up for it as he pulled it over the man inside the ring, goes one bounce into the ropes at fine-leg to seal the deal.
Highest score for Shivam Dube in T20Is. Previous best: 54(30) against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram
17.2 Naveen-ul-Haq to Shivam Dube, SIX! BOOM! Goes straight as an arrow and right over the sight screen for a magnificent six. Length delivery on the stumps, in the arc and Dube walloped it all the way.
17.1 Naveen-ul-Haq to Rinku Singh, slower bumper but slightly down the leg-side, Rinku gets inside the line and pulled it to deep backward square-leg for one.
2nd 50 for Dube in his career. He scored his first in 2019 against West Indies and now against Afghanistan. He may have found his batting position at the top of the order or in the top half of the middle order. India need 11 runs to win in 18 balls
17
overs
148/4score
1
4
1
0
1
1
runs
Rinku Singh*
15(8)
Shivam Dube
50(38)
Azmatullah Omarzai
1/33
16.6 Azmatullah Omarzai to Rinku Singh, too full outside the off-stump, Rinku driven it away but a good diving stop from Rahmat at extra-cover for just one.
16.5 Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, FIFTY FOR DUBE! This has been a brilliant innings from Dube, largely in control throughout. Length delivery on the pads, Dube clipped it through square-leg for one to bring up his second T20I fifty.
16.4 Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, OH! Overpitched outside the off-stump, that was there to be driven away as Dube leans and plays a false shot, gets beaten.
16.3 Azmatullah Omarzai to Rinku Singh, slower one, pitched up full on the fourth stump. Rinku leans and eases it past the covers for a single.
16.2 Azmatullah Omarzai to Rinku Singh, FOUR! SHOT! Neatly done, so neatly done by Rinku. Back of a length on the fourth stump, Rinku waits and opens the face of the blade, steers it in the gap between backward point and short third, picks up another boundary.
16.1 Azmatullah Omarzai to Shivam Dube, back of a length on the off-stump, Dube on the backfoot gets slightly rushed, punched it down the ground for only a single.
Azmatullah Omarzai (3-0-25-1) comes back into the attack and will be bowling to Shivam Dube on strike
India need 19 runs to win in 24 balls. With Rinku at the crease and Dube well set, the job looks done for India. However, Afghanistan have the ability to spring up a surprise and change the game all together as we have seen throughout the World Cup.
Video
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Rinku Singh
*
Azmatullah Omarzai
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh
