After a thumping win in the first T20I in the Punjab, India took on Afghanistan in the second game of the three-match series on Sunday (14th January). The game between the teams, which was also a virtual decider took place at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and put Afghanistan into bat first. The opposition had a great start as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (14) and Ibrahim Zadran (8) scored 20 runs in just two overs. However, Ravi Bishnoi brought his team back into the game with the wicket of Gurbaz.
Axar Patel then removed Ibrahim Zadran before Shivam Dube sent packing Azmatullah Omarzai. However, Gulbadin Naib brought his team back into the game as he blasted a brutal half-century and ended with an innings of 57 runs off 35 balls.
After he got out, Najibullah Zadran (23), Karim Janat (20), and Mujeeb ur Rahman (21) played vital cameos that powered Afghanistan to a total of 172 runs. India restricted runs in the middle over but the visitors slammed lusty blows in the end.
For India, Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up three wickets and gave away 32 runs. Apart from him, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi picked two wickets each whereas Shivam Dube chipped in as well as they bundled out the opposition for a below-par total in the small stadium.
IND vs AFG Scorecard, 2nd T20I Highlights: India chase the target inside 16 overs; Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal hit fifties
India in their chase were off to a torrid start with the bat. Rohit Sharma had a horrible outing in his 150th game as he bagged a golden duck. Fazalhaq Farooqi castled him early on in the first over and the hosts came under a bit of pressure.
But Yashasvi Jaiswal took off all the pressure as he took the attack to bowlers and hit them all over the park. Virat Kohli (29), who came to bat in, played some breathtaking shots and lifted up the crowd before he got out to his nemesis Naveen-Ul-Haq.
