India innings updates:
Shivam Dube also hits the winning runs as India win the first match comfortably with 2.2 overs to spare. He took a wicket off the 2nd ball of his spell and mustered 60 off 40 deliveries.
Shivam Dube raises his 2nd T20I half-century off 38 deliveries as India are only 13 runs away from the target.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman gets his 2nd wicket as Jitesh Sharma's handy cameo comes to a close. But that brings the bona fide finisher Rink Singh into the crease.
Azmatullah Omarzai does the trick for Afghanistan! He sends back the dangerous Tilak Varma as Gulbadin Naib holds onto one. India are 72-3 after 8.4 overs, chasing 159 for victory.
Shubman Gill plays a few crisp shots, but Mujeeb-ur-Rahman gets the better of him. Afghanistan will sense a chance as both openers are back in the hut. India have lost 2 wickets inside the powerplay.
India lose their first wicket as Rohit Sharma goes for a duck! The Indian captain is furious as Shubman Gill did not move from the non-striker's end.
Afghanistan innings updates:
Afghanistan finish strongly as they cart Arshdeep Singh for 15 runs in the final over, with Najibullah Zadran smacking 3 boundaries. They set a competitive, but an achievable 159 for India to win.
Team India get the vital wicket of Mohammad Nabi for 42 as Mukesh Kumar picks up his 2nd to finish with a spell of 4-0-33-2. Afghanistan are 130-5 after 18 overs.
Mukesh Kumar finally gets the wicket! He ends Omarzai's stay at 29 off 22 deliveries. Afghanistan are 125-4 after 17.1 overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi bring up the 50-run partnership as they aim for a competitive total. 107-3 after 15.2 overs.
It's Axar Patel this time! Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes cheaply on his T20I debut as he gets an inside edge onto the stumps.
Shivam Dube strikes with only the 2nd ball of his spell as Ibrahm Zadran departs for a 22-ball 25 cameo. Both openers back in the hut.
Axar Patel gets the first wicket for India as Jitesh Sharma affects a smart stumping. Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes after a 28-ball 23.
Shivam Dube drops a simple catch at mid-off as Ibrahim Zadran gets a life, denies Arshdeep Singh a wicket.
Arshdeep Singh starts off with a maiden.
Team India and Afghanistan will face one another in the first of the three-match T20I series, beginning on January 11th (Thursday) in Mohali. It is also the first bilateral white-ball series between the two sides as the hosts eye a winning start to get their T20 World Cup preparations underway. Team India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and has elected to bowl first despite dew not expected on the night.
The Indian opening batter reasoned that the pitch hardly changes in Mohali and admits that the T20I series against Afghanistan is crucial leading into the T20 World Cup in June. He said at the toss:
"No particular reason, the pitch doesn't change here much. A lot to gain from these three games. We haven't had too much T20 cricket. Leading upto the WC we have IPL and stuff but international game is international game. Trying to achieve what the team is heading to. I wasn't in the team for the entire last year, but I've been talking to Rahul bhai about what we are doing and understand what we need to do as a group. Winning is the most important thing."
"We are trying to play positive cricket and bring that confidence to the WC" - Ibrahim Zadran
Ibrahim Zadran acknowledged that he wanted to bowl first too, but is optimistic of executing their plans in batting. Zadran claimed:
"I would've gone with bowl first had we won. No problem, we'll try to execute the plan in batting. This is a nice opportunity to gain some experience and generate momentum for the T20 World Cup. We are trying to play positive cricket and bring that confidence to the WC."
Playing XI of both sides:
India playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar.
Afghanistan playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(wk), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
