NEW DELHI: India emerged victorious in the series opener against Afghanistan with a six-wicket win on a chilly night in Mohali on Thursday.
The match marked the comeback of skipper Rohit Sharma to the shortest format after a gap of 14 months. However, Rohit's return did not go as planned, as he was run out due to a mix-up with his opening partner Shubman Gill.
'These things happen…'
In a rare sight, Rohit, who was out for a two-ball duck, expressed his frustration on the field and vented out his anger. Despite the setback, India managed to secure a win, which according to Rohit, was the most important thing.
"These things happen (on the run-out). When it happens you feel frustrated, you want to be out there and score runs for the team. Everything will not go your way. We won the game, that's more important. I wanted Gill to carry on, but unfortunately got out after playing a very good little innings," Rohit said at the post-match interaction.
1/10:All-round Dube helps India beat Afghanistan in chilly T20I opener
ANI
2/10:Shivam Dube's unbeaten fifty
All-rounder Shivam Dube (60* off 40 balls) defied bitterly cold weather to hit an unbeaten half-century for India.PTI
3/10:India take 1-0 lead vs Afghanistan
India eased to a comfortable six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first Twenty20 international.PTI
4/10:India's bowlers restrict Afghanistan
India's bowlers led by spinner Axar Patel restricted Afghanistan to 158/5 despite an attacking 42 by Mohammad Nabi.AFP
5/10:Chilly weather in Mohali
Temperatures plummeted to just nine degrees (48 Fahrenheit) in the northern city of Mohali where summer heat can soar to a scorching 40-plus degrees.ANI
6/10:Positive performance by spinners
"There were a lot of positives, especially with the ball. Wasn't the easiest of conditions but our spinners bowled particularly well," India skipper Rohit Sharma said.AFP
7/10:Key partnerships in India's chase
Shivam Dube steered the chase with key partnerships including a 45-run stand with Jitesh Sharma, who made 31, and an unbeaten 42 with Rinku Singh, 16 not out.PTI
8/10:Man of the Match: Shivam Dube
The 30-year-old Shivam Dube (1/9 & 60*) won the game with a six and four and was named man of the match.ANI
9/10:Afghanistan's batting struggles
Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on 50 for the opening wicket before the Indian bowlers hit back with Axar returning figures of 2-23.AP
10/10:Afghanistan's fielding woes
"We were quite lazy with the fielding today," Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran said. "We will try to improve batting as well. Bowling we have no issue. Will focus on what we did wrong today."PTIIndia's final T20 World Cup preparations
Rohit mentioned that the team management is deliberately putting players in uncomfortable situations to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.This three-match series against Afghanistan serves as India's final preparation before the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States and the West Indies.
'We want to challenge ourselves'
"We want to keep trying different things - try and bowl our bowlers in different situations of the game, like you saw today, Washi (Washington Sundar) bowled the 19th over. We want to challenge ourselves in the areas we are slightly uncomfortable with and the bowlers are not used to that," Rohit said.
"We want to try and do that. Keeping all of those things in mind, we'll try and do whatever is possible but not at the cost of the game. We want to make sure that we come out on top and play the game well. All in all, today was a good day for us," Rohit added.
Comfortable win for India
India gunned down the 159-run target in 17.3 overs. Shivam Dube starred with an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls and also took a wicket with his medium pace.
"There are a lot of positives. Shivam Dube, the way Jitesh batted, Tilak as well and then Rinku is in good form as well," Rohit concluded.
