In the recent T20I between India and Afghanistan, all eyes were on Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team captain, as he made a comeback to the format after 14 months. This series marks India’s final international T20 challenge before the T20 World Cup, making Rohit’s performance crucial. Unfortunately, his return was marred by a run-out on the second ball of the first over by Fazalhaq Farooqi.
The dismissal occurred due to a mix-up with opening partner Shubman Gill. Rohit drove the ball to mid-off, calling for a single, but Gill, fixated on the ball, didn’t respond quickly. The result was a run-out, leaving Rohit frustrated. He gestured something towards Gill before heading back to the dugout.
Afghanistan managed 158 for five
Despite this setback, Afghanistan managed a competitive total of 158 for five, thanks to a spirited 68-run partnership between Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai. The duo’s stroke-filled innings rescued Afghanistan after a shaky start, with openers Rahamanullah Gurbaz and skipper Ibrahim Zadran struggling to find boundaries in the powerplay.
The game had a delayed start due to a distracting flickering blue light around the sightscreen, bothering Gurbaz. Pacer Arshdeep Singh started with a maiden over, and spinners, particularly Axar Patel, played a significant role. Axar, with figures of 4-0-23-2, proved to be India’s standout bowler.
Axar dismissed Gurbaz with a stumping, and Shivam Dube’s innocuous delivery was smashed by Zadran straight to Rohit Sharma at cover. Rahmat Shah, making his T20 debut, chopped on a flatter one from Axar.
Partnership of Nabi and Omarzai
Nabi and Omarzai then took charge, guiding Afghanistan to a respectable total. While the top-order struggled, the experienced Nabi and the youthful Omarzai showcased how to build a T20 innings. Their focus on rotating the strike, especially against Ravi Bishnoi and Mukesh Kumar, was pivotal.
Nabi’s quickfire knock included impressive sixes off Mukesh, displaying his skill and experience. The innings concluded with contributions from Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat, taking the total past 150.
Despite Afghanistan’s commendable performance, India faced challenges, dropping three catches in the biting cold of Mohali. Complicating matters, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was unavailable due to a sore right groin.
