Chasing 159 runs, India lost four wickets, but Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh led the team beat Afghanistan by 6 wickets at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali in the first T20 International on 11 January.
India started their innings with a disappointing moment when skipper Rohit Sharma (0) was run out in the first over by Ibrahim Zadran.
Earlier, Afghanistan settled for 158/5 against India in the first T20 International.
Mohammad Nabi was the top-scorer for the visitors, scoring a brisk 42 off 27 balls to prop up the innings.
Asked to bat first, Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran (25 off 22 balls) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (23 off 28) added 50 runs in eight overs, but they could not force the pace during their stay.
Azmatullah Omarzai chipped in with a 22-ball 29.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was the most successful bowler for India, with figures of 2/23, while Mukesh Kumar bagged 2/33.
Earlier, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first against Afghanistan in the first T20 International.
Sanju Samson, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav and Yashashvi Jaiswal, who was finalised as one of the openers along with the captain on the eve of the first game, will miss the match due to injuries. Rohit said at the toss that Yashashvi “didn’t pull off well”.
Senior spinner Kuldeep bagged 15 wickets for India at the 2023 World Cup. After the World Cup, spinner Bishnoi was instrumental in India’s series win over Australia. The young spinner was named the Player of the Series at the time. Earlier, Bishnoi’s ouster was questioned by Gautam Gambhir when India met South Africa in the 3rd T20I. The 23-year-old has picked up 34 wickets in 21 matches for the 2007 world champions. Spinner Kuldeep has 58 wickets to his name in 34 T20Is.
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