In the 1st T20I clash between India and Afghanistan at Mohali on Thursday, the hosts, led by Rohit Sharma, showcased an impressive performance, ticking almost all boxes for a comprehensive victory by six wickets. Key players such as Shivam Dube and Axar Patel excelled, contributing significantly. However, one notable exception was Rohit Sharma’s solid batting display. Making a comeback to T20Is after 14 months, Rohit Sharma faced an early setback, getting out for a duck due to a mix-up with opening partner Shubman Gill in the second ball of the innings. The Afghanistan players capitalized on the confusion, resulting in the run-out of the Indian captain.
Commentators during the match acknowledged Rohit Sharma’s frustration with Shubman Gill’s delayed response, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and understanding the partner’s running pace in such situations.
Regarding the match itself, after being put in to bat, Afghanistan had a promising start with a 50-run partnership between skipper Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Despite early setbacks, a crucial 68-run partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammed Nabi, followed by a solid finish by Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat, propelled Afghanistan to a competitive total of 158/5 in 20 overs. India’s bowling highlights included Axar Patel’s 2/23 and Mukesh Kumar’s 2/33, with Shivam Dube also contributing with a wicket.
Chasing 159, India faced an early setback with Rohit Sharma’s dismissal for a duck. Shubman Gill showed promise with 23 runs, but it was the partnerships between Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma (44 runs) and later between Dube and Jitesh Sharma (45 runs) that steered India back on track. Shivam Dube’s impressive half-century, scoring 60 in 40 balls, guided India to victory alongside Rinku Singh (16*), securing a successful comeback for Rohit Sharma’s team in the T20I series.