India flaunted their batting firepower on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore as Yashavi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube’s blistering fifties helped them chase down 173 in just 15.4 overs and seal an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series against Afghanistan. It was a power-hitting show from the two left-handers and a certain Virat Kohli, who returned to the T20I side for the first time in 14 months. Kohli did not convert his start into a big knock but he made sure he proved naysayers wrong with a refreshingly aggressive approach at No.3. | Indore T20I – Scorecard |
Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 63 after Yashasvi Jaiswal exited for 68 as India got the chase done without breaking a sweat.
Axar Patel (2 for 17) and Arshdeep Singh (3/32) stood out with the ball after captain Rohit Sharma, featuring in a record-setting 150th international in T20Is, won the toss and opted to field. India restricted Afghanistan to a par total despite a quickfire fifty from Gulbadin Naib. However, the explosive batting show overshadowed the bowlers’ hard work 10 sixes and 15 boundaries flew off the blades of the Indian batters, leaving the Indore crowd thrilled.
Rohit Sharma got out for a duck for the second successive time in the series, but the comeback man has tasted series victory on his return to the shortest format of the game. Both Kohli and Rohit returned to T20Is for the first time since November 2022 as they were brought back to the side with 5 months to go for the T20 World Cup.
