Afghanistan’s Tour of India (2nd T20)
In a dazzling display of power-hitting, India secured an unassailable win in the T20I series against Afghanistan, chasing down a target of 172 with 26 balls to spare. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube stole the show with breathtaking performances with the bat, guiding India to a convincing win.
Afghanistan had posted a competitive total of 172 for 10 in their 20 overs, anchored by Gulbadin Naib’s quick-fire fifty and valuable contributions from Najibullah Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Karim Janat. Arshdeep Singh starred for India with three wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel claimed two each, and Shivam Dube chipped in with one.
Chasing the target, India got off to a scintillating start despite losing skipper Rohit Sharma early. Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his aggressive form, and to everyone’s surprise, Virat Kohli played an attacking cameo on his T20I return, contributing 29 off 16 balls. However, it was the explosive partnership between Jaiswal and Dube that defined the game. The duo punished the Afghan bowlers, adding 92 runs in next to no time. Jaiswal played a stunning innings of 68 off 34 balls, while Dube remained unbeaten with a dazzling 63 off 32 balls, ensuring a comfortable victory for India.
Afghanistan’s bowling effort lacked consistency, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Karim Janat being the only positives. Despite some early success, they couldn’t contain the Indian batting duo, ultimately falling short against the explosive lineup.
With this victory, India marked their 15th consecutive T20I series win at home. The limelight shifted from seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the young guns, showcasing the depth and dynamism of Indian cricket. As the series concludes, Afghanistan will seek improvements to salvage pride, while India aims for a clean sweep to continue their dominance in T20Is at home.
Chief Scores :
Afghanistan – 172 for 10 in 20 overs (Gulbadin Naib 57, Najibullah Zadran 23, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 21, Arshdeep Singh 3 for 32, Axar Patel 2 for 17, Ravi Bishnoi 2 for 39)
India – 173 for 4 in 15.4 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 68, Shivam Dube 63*, Virat Kohli 29, Karim Janat 2 for 13, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1 for 28, Naveen-ul-Haq 1 for 33)
