1st T20
A thrilling cricket clash unfolds in Mohali as Afghanistan engages in a 3-match series against India they have never beaten India in a T20 series away and now with this powerful team is their chance. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian side, opts to bowl first. Captain Ibrahim Zadran and his team take the batting initiative on this flat wicket, aiming for a substantial total.
The contest intensifies between Arshdeep and Zadran. However, excitement turns to disappointment as Dube drops a crucial catch in Mohali, leaving the crowd dismayed. This missed opportunity could prove significant for India. Despite the setback, Zadran and Gurbaz display elegant shots at a slow run rate, working towards building a competitive score.
The turning point comes when Axar bowls a flatter delivery on the stumps, catching Gurbaz off guard. Jitesh Sharma, the IPL hero for Punjab, swiftly removes the bails, securing the first wicket for India. Dube redeems himself later, bowling a short, quick delivery that Zadran hits straight into Rohit's hands. India claims the second wicket, putting Afghanistan in a challenging position.
Afghanistan faces further trouble as Axar returns to the attack, dismissing Rahmat Shah. India dominates Afghanistan, quickly securing wickets. The narrative changes as Afghanistan accelerates the score with impressive performances from Omarzai and Nabi, who have a good record in India as Nabi ends off with 2 4s and 3 6s and a strike rate of 156. They target leg-break bowlers Bishnoi and Mukesh Kumar.
However, Mukesh Kumar, starting his fourth over, delivers a wide delivery, causing Omarzai to chop it onto his stumps. On the last ball of his spell, Kumar bowls a short one, leading Nabi to attempt a shot but hitting it straight into Rinku Singh's hands – an excellent fielder. India has Afghanistan at 5 down.
Najibullah and Karim Janat managed to finish Afghanistan's innings on 158/5, a mediocre total in Punjab.
2nd Innings
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and his reliable partner Shubhman Gill stride out to the middle in Mohali, where the chasing team has historically had more success. The outcome of this contest remains a mystery. However, India's start is far from ideal, with Rohit Sharma hitting a ball straight to the mid-off fielder. Shubhman Gill, seemingly ball-watching, experiences a total miscommunication with Rohit Sharma, leading to a run-out. Rohit Sharma is visibly frustrated, walking off while expressing his displeasure at his partner. Tilak Verma is the next batsman to join the action.
Shubhman Gill, despite the setback, showcases stunning shots against both pace and spin. Unfortunately, Mujeeb Ur Rahman deceives him, resulting in a stumping, and Gill has to walk back. This wicket holds significance for Mujeeb and Afghanistan, as India finds themselves at 28/2, desperately needing a partnership. Lefties Shivam Dube and Tilak Verma then take the middle, aggressively taking on the spinners with powerful hitting and lofting the pace.
During their aggressive approach, Tilak Verma smashes a short one by Omarzai straight to the man Gulbadin in the deep. Gulbadin takes an exceptional catch, and India is now 3 down. Jitesh Sharma steps in to bat, and he, along with Dube, exchanges hits against the Afghani bowlers. However, Mujeeb gets another breakthrough as Jitesh hits it straight to captain Zadran, leading to his quick dismissal.
Despite losing Jitesh Sharma, classy finisher Rinku Singh enters the middle with Shivam Dube, who is still in bright form at 35(27). Afghanistan's misfields contribute to India edging closer to victory, with Dube's exceptional batting and Rinku holding his ground. Dube, the tall man, achieves his 2nd T20I 50 in international cricket, concluding the game in the 18th over with a boundary, finishing at 60(40). A remarkable performance from Shivam Dube with both bat and ball earns him the well-deserved Player of the Match award. India takes a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series, and the anticipation builds for the next encounter in Indore.
Comments