IND VS AFG 1ST T20I

Right then, the first-ever bilateral T20I series between India and Afghanistan has got off to a fine start and the hosts have taken the 1-0 lead. There are still a couple of games to go and now the caravan moves to the Holkar Stadium in Indore for game number 2. That match will be played on Sunday, 14 January and will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). You can however join us early for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Shivam Dube is the Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round display. He starts off by saying that the weather was really cold and he enjoyed the outing and playing at number 4. He further says that he had a bit of pressure on him but was only focusing on doing well for the side. He then talks about the pressure which only lasts for the first 2 or 3 overs in a match after which the instincts take over. He then concludes that Rohit Sharma has backed him well and appreciated the efforts he has put in so far which helped him execute well in this game.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma says that he has not played in conditions colder than this. Adds that it was extremely cold and he was not able to feel his finger when he took the catch. Shares that there were a lot of positives, especially with the ball. Adds that spinners bowled well and pacers also got the job done. On his run out, he says that these things happen. Mentions that he wanted Shubman Gill to carry on but he got out after playing a beautiful little innings. States that knocks from Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, and Tilak Varma and the way Rinku Singh finished was pleasing to see. Also says that they want to challenge themselves in uncomfortable conditions but not at the cost of the game and all in all, it was a good day.

The skipper of Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran says they were 30-40 runs short and losing the toss was crucial. He further says that they were trying to have a good start in the Powerplay but lost back-to-back wickets which made it difficult. He also says that one of them has to stay at the crease and carry on till the 14th or 15th over. He then talks about the dew in the second innings which made it difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball. He concludes that they will have to improve on their fielding and batting and there seemed no issue with the bowling.

The Presentation ceremony...

Rinku Singh is in for a flash interview. He starts by saying that it has become a habit of batting at number 6 and finishing games. Mentions that he enjoyed batting but it was tough out there in the field. Shares that he tries to stay calm by talking to himself. Further adds that MS Dhoni advised him during the last Indian T20 League season to stay calm and let the bowler react according to the situation. States that he does not try to complicate his game by thinking too much and lets his instincts take over.

Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma won the toss for India after a run of successive 11 lost tosses in a row for India across all formats and different captains and put Afghanistan into bat. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz laid the platform for the visitors with a 50-run stand. It wasn't quick but they had something to build on but both fell in quick succession and then it was the 68-run stand between Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai that got Afghanistan back into the contest. Nabi was particularly aggressive and made quick runs but they once again lost wickets in a heap before eventually a cameo by Najibullah Zadran got them close to the 160-run mark. With the ball, Axar Patel was the pick of the three spinners as he got two wickets and was economical as well. The pacers bowled well and Arshdeep Singh was a bit unlucky to go wicketless but Mukesh Kumar and Shivam Dube did pick up crucial wickets. Coming to the chase, India lost a few wickets along the way but stayed ahead of the required rate at all times and Dube's inning with the bat ensured there was no late hiccup.

Afghanistan didn't have the runs on the board but did get a lucky breakthrough in the very first over. They failed to capitalize through and even after Mujeeb Ur Rahman got the wicket of Shubman Gill, they weren't able to build on it. The pacers were a bit off the pace and tried to bowl too many slower deliveries on a deck where the ball was sliding on and that negated the purpose of those slower deliveries. Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled really well and Fazalhaq Farooqi was good too but the likes of Naveen-ul-Haq and Mohammad Nabi went for plenty and weren't able to even it out a bit with wickets to their names. In the end, they fell well short against a world-class team and were handed a thumping.

Fireworks in the end from Shivam Dube to round off a pretty comfortable win for India and the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. An entertaining game of cricket but with Afghanistan falling 25 runs short of the average first-innings score of 183 runs at the venue, sooner or later, India would have been able to gun down the target and that is what happened. The Indian innings began on a disastrous note when Shubman Gill was caught ball-watching and the phase of play ended with the run out of the skipper Rohit Sharma for a duck. Gill however made amends with some exiting shots before falling prey to his aggressive inhibitions. Then came the stand between the two southpaws where Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube stitched together 44 runs and got India on top of proceedings. After Varma fell, Jitesh Sharma came in and played a quickfire cameo before getting out as well. In between all of this, Dube remained unfazed and kept on getting the boundaries away whenever he got the chance and went into overdrive mode towards the end. Dube sealed a stellar fifty and hit the winning runs as well with a maximum.

FOUR! THAT'S IT! Shivam Dube gets the job done for India! Naveen-ul-Haq bangs it in short, around the right shoulder of the batter, Shivam Dube stays deep in the crease and pulls it comfortably over short fine leg for a boundary. It almost went the distance but four is enough for India to win by 6 wickets and go 1-0 up in the series!

A slight delay in proceedings as the ball seems to be lost behind the sightscreen. They do get the ball eventually and we are good to continue.

SIX! BANG! Straight as an arrow! Naveen-ul-Haq comes from around the wicket and bowls it right in the arc of the southpaw, on a length, on middle, Shivam Dube clears his front leg and lets his long levers do the rest. Swings cleanly and smokes it towards the sightscreen for a maximum. Just 4 runs needed now!

Bangs it in short, around leg, Rinku Singh gets inside the line and pulls it down to fine leg for a single.

A bit too full, outside off, Rinku Singh leans on it and drives it crisply towards extra cover where the fielder makes a half-stop but the single was always on.

FIFTY FOR SHIVAM DUBE! First with the ball and now with the bat, it has been an impressive showing from Dube! Full and sliding on the pads, Shivam Dube rolls his wrists and clips it through square leg for a single to bring up his second T20I fifty.

In the channel on off, on a length, Shivam Dube gets lured into the drive and gets beaten on the outside edge. The replays in the next over show that there was a noise and a big outside edge on it. Very strange that no one including the keeper even went up for the appeal.

Fuller this time, around off, Rinku Singh pushes it to deep cover to rotate the strike.