The State of Play
India won the series opener at a canter with a couple of players catching the eye. Left-arm all-rounder Axar Patel was exceptionally tidy in taking two for 23 to help restrict Afghanistan to 158 for five from their 20 overs and Shivam Dube, who hit an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls to claim the player of the match sward.
Dube’s innings was notable as India were missing Virat Kohli for Thursday’s game due to personal reasons but the superstar will return for Sunday’s encounter in Indore.
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Afghanistan were let down by their batting, despite being given a good start by openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who put on 50 for the first wicket only for both men to fall within the space of three deliveries.
Mohammad Nabi made a 27-ball 42 but the middle order failed to back him up.
Team News
Kohli is back for India and will go straight back into the line-up but Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was slated to start as an opener in Mohali before being ruled out at the toss with a sore groin, is unlikely to return.
Afghanistan are unlikely to make many changes and could well go with the same XI that played the series opener.
Expected line-ups
India: R Sharma (c), Gill, Dube, Kohli, J Sharma (wk), R Singh, Patel, Sundar, Bishnoi, A Singh, M Kumar
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah (wk), Ibrahim (c), Omarzai, Rahmat, Nabi, Najibullah, Janat, Gulbadin, Farooqi, Naveen, Mujeeb
Acing the chase 😎
Conversations with Captain @ImRo45 👌
Message for a special bunch 🤗Hear from the all-rounder & Player of the Match of the #INDvAFG T20I opener – @IamShivamDube 👌👌 – By @ameyatilak
WATCH 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/edEH8H3O5f
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 12, 2024
What they said
Shivam Dube on his impact in the first game of the series
“Batting at number four was a bit of pressure for me but I had one thing on my mind… that I had to play my style of cricket. From my style, I feel a bit of pressure first two to three balls but after that I think about the ball and don’t think too much. I know I can hit big sixes in T20s, so I know I can get runs anyway.”
Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran on their display in Mohali
“We will try to improve our fielding. We were quite lazy with the fielding. We will try to improve our batting as well. Bowling we have no issue. Will focus on what we did wrong today.”
When and how to watch
India against Afghanistan takes place at 1.30pm UK time tomorrow. It is not being shown live in the UK.
Prediction
If the likes of Dube and Patel can maintain their form then India will be tough to beat, especially with Kohli coming back into the side. Afghanistan’s spinners will always be a threat, especially in the warmer climes of Indore, but it’s tough to bet against a series-clinching India win.
