IND Win by Six Wickets | India vs Afghanistan Highlights of 1st T20I 2024: Shivam Dube, Bowlers Guide Men in Blue to Victory

India have a 1-0 lead in this three-match series courtesy of some fine bowling and a wonderful innings from Shivam Dube. This new look Indian team showed its mettle and deservedly find themselves ahead in this series on a chilly evening in Mohali. It was achieved not without a bit of drama though, with Rohit Sharma's miscommunication with Shubman Gill standing out as one of the most forgettable moments for the hosts. Afghanistan batters were restricted to a below-par total and India expectedly chased down the total with ease, despite losing wickets at regular intervals. The credit goes to Dube, who held the innings together with a fine performance as India beat Afghanistan in this contest. 

Shivam Dube has won it for India here! What a way to start off the series for the youngster, who struck his half-century and took the side over the line after they lost early wickets. It has been calm and mature innings and he has not hesitated to take on the bowling at times. India are 1-0 up in the series, with the bowlers having set up this victory on a chilly evening in Mohali. 

FIFTY! Shivam Dube is putting on a show here! Talk about staking a claim for a spot in this T20I side. He has been superb ever since coming out to the crease and has played some fascinating shots on both sides of the wicket en route to his 2nd T20I fifty. 

OUT! Jitesh Sharma has perished and it is Mujeeb Ur Rahman who has struck! The wicketkeeper-batter has holed out in the deep and the partnership, which looked threatening, has ended much to Afghanistan's relief. Out comes Rinku Singh and we are in for some finish!  Jitesh Sharma c Ibrahim Zadran b Mujeeb 31(20) 

Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma are holding the fort for India in this run chase and the innings is ticking along pretty well here. India would know that this partnership can seal the win here and would want these two to continue. 

OUT! Tilak Varma is the next man to fall and what a catch it is, from Gulbadin Naib. These conditions are not easy to judge and Naib ends up taking a fascinating catch. Tilak Varma c Gulbadin b Azmatullah 26(22) 

Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma are leading the fightback for India after the loss of two wickets. India need this partnership to carry on before the likes of Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma can come in and play some explosive shots. 

OUT! Shubman Gill has looked in very good form here but Mujeeb Ur Rahman has provided Afghanistan with a big big wicket here. The youngster was involved in a miscommunication with Rohit Sharma leading to the latter's run out but he has not let it affect his concentration. However, he missed the ball as he danced down the track and was stumped! India are two down now. Shubman Gill st Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 23(12) 

OUT! A wicket off the first ball and it is captain Rohit Sharma who is run out! The Indian captain is absolutely livid with Shubman Gill as he did not move from his crease while Rohit ran over to the other end as the ball was fielded. Rohit comfortably reached the other end while Gill was ball-watching while not responding.  Rohit Sharma run out (Ibrahim Zadran/Gurbaz) 0(2)

Arshdeep Singh concedes 15 runs off the final over as Afghanistan manage 158/5 in this 1st T20I against India. After both openers were back in the hut, it looked like this mark would not be reached by the visitors but Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai ensured that there was a momentum shift in the meantime. It is a good total, although Afghanistan would hope that they could some more. For India, it is a good bowling performance, albeit the dropped chances. 

OUT! Mukesh Kumar has taken another wicket and it is that of the big one of Mohammad Nabi! Nabi attempted a big shot and Rinku Singh ended up taking a fine catch in the deep. Mohammad Nabi c Rinku Singh b Mukesh Kumar 42(27)

OUT! Mukesh Kumar has struck for the first time in this match and he has had Azmatullah Omarzai edge onto his stumps. The right-hander tried to carve one through the off-side and the ball smashed into the stumps. India have broken this stand. Azmatullah Omarzai b Mukesh Kumar 29(22)

A decent over from Arshdeep Singh here but Mohammad Nabi is on fire! He is using all his experience and playing a fine, fine knock here. The veteran struck two big sixes on either side and Afghanistan would eye a strong finish, with him going on in this fashion. Azmatullah Omarzai is also looking in great touch at the other end. 

Azmatullah Omarzai is teeing off here! He is taking the attack to Ravi Bishnoi and he and Mohammad Nabi are attacking everything that is bowled in the slot. For the first time, we see Afghanistan put some pressure on the Indian bowling and the visitors would want both these players to continue in the same way. 

Mohammad Nabi is key for Afghanistan here if they want to get to a big score. India have bowled in tight areas here and Afghanistan have not been able to score runs with ease and at the rate they would have loved to. The spinners have been on the money for India and the lengths of all the bowlers have mostly been perfect.

OUT! Axar Patel has struck again and this time, it is the debutant Rahmant Shah who has to depart. The ball was too close to cut and the right-hander ended up edging the ball onto his stumps. India have three wickets in quick time after a solid opening stand. Rahmat Shah b Axar Patel 3 (6)

OUT! One more wicket and it is Shivam Dube who has struck in his first over! Short and outside off, Zadran went for a powerful shot on the off-side and the ball went straight to Rohit Sharma who ends up taking a simple catch.  Ibrahim Zadran c Rohit Sharma b Shivam Dube 25(22)

OUT! A pickup sweep shot by Rahmanullah Gurbaz now off Axar Patel's bowling and the opening stand has crossed 50 runs. And how does Axar respond? By picking up his wicket in the space of one ball. The Afghanistan opener has been stumped off Axar's bowling and India have a breakthrough at last. Rahmanullah Gurbaz st Jitesh Sharma b Axar  Patel 23(28) 

The first six of the Afghanistan innings with Ibrahim Zadran easing into that shot here. It was a much-needed big hit for the visitors and expect them to play more aggressively now. An effortless flick of the wrist for a maximum and it resulted in 11 runs off the over from Washington Sundar. 

Would that go down as a chance? Guess not as the ball fell way short with Rohit Sharma running into field. And it is Ibrahim Zadran once again! The ball came quickly and he mistimed it with the ball looping into the air. Having said that, it has been good bowling in the powerplay with just 33 runs being scored by Afghanistan.