In a scintillating display of skill and resilience, Shivam Dube’s calculated innings of 60* off 40 balls propelled India to a commanding victory over Afghanistan in the first T20I clash in Mohali. Chasing Afghanistan’s modest total of 158, the hosts stumbled early at 28-2 in four overs. However, Dube, in a solid performance, alongside Jitesh Sharma’s quickfire 31 off 20 balls, steered India to triumph with 15 balls to spare and six wickets in hand.

India’s T20I campaign kicked off on a perfect note, overcoming the challenges posed by the Mohali surface, laden with dew. The younger players took charge after the initial setbacks, compensating for the rare failures of star batters Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Skipper Rohit, making a T20I comeback after 14 months, is poised to make a strong statement in the upcoming match. Additionally, Virat Kohli, absent in the first game due to personal reasons, is set to rejoin the squad, aiming to reaffirm his dominance in the format.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, had a lacklustre performance in the series opener, struggling to reach 158 on a favourable batting surface. Mohammad Nabi’s contribution of 42 off 27 balls played a significant role. Attention now turns to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who has been in excellent form, amassing 206 runs in his last seven matches at an average of 29.43 and a striking rate of 149.27. Ibrahim Zadran, too, holds the potential for a noteworthy performance on the flat track.

Concerns loom over Afghanistan’s bowling unit, particularly in the absence of star spinner Rashid Khan. The team faces the daunting task of regrouping and putting up a stronger fight on Indian soil. As the stage shifts to Indore for the second game, anticipation builds for an intense clash between the two sides, with India holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.