In the face of bitterly cold weather, all-rounder Shivam Dube showcased his skills by delivering an unbeaten half-century and claiming a wicket, propelling India to a comfortable victory over Afghanistan in the first Twenty20 international on Thursday.
Dube, a left-handed batsman, exhibited his prowess with a 60-run innings off 40 balls, securing his second T20 fifty. India successfully chased down the target of 159, finishing the match with 15 balls to spare and six wickets in hand at Mohali.
With this win, India takes the lead in the three-match series, setting the stage for their preparations for the T20 World Cup scheduled for June.
Despite the bone-chilling conditions, India's bowlers, led by spinner Axar Patel, restricted Afghanistan to 158-5, with Mohammad Nabi contributing an attacking 42 on the chilly winter evening.
Temperatures dropped to just nine degrees Celsius (48 Fahrenheit) in the northern city of Mohali, where summer heat can soar to scorching 40-plus degrees. Some players were even spotted using hand warmers to combat the extreme cold.
Returning skipper Rohit Sharma, who was run out for a duck due to a mix-up with Shubman Gill, remarked on the challenging conditions, stating, "It was extremely cold, to be honest." Despite the difficulties, Sharma acknowledged the positives, particularly praising the bowlers for their performance in challenging conditions.
Axar Patel and fast bowler Mukesh Kumar claimed two wickets each, while Dube, with figures of 1-9 from his two overs of medium-pace bowling, contributed both with the ball and the bat. His crucial partnerships, including a 45-run stand with Jitesh Sharma (31) and an unbeaten 42 with Rinku Singh (16 not out), steered India to victory.
Dube, who sealed the win with a six and a four, was named the man of the match for his all-around performance.
Rohit Sharma, making a return to the T20 captaincy after over a year, elected to field first. Afghanistan's opening pair of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on 50 runs, but the Indian bowlers struck back, with Axar taking 2-23. Despite a few setbacks, Mohammad Nabi's attacking innings and contributions from other players helped Afghanistan reach 158-5.
Afghanistan's skipper, Ibrahim Zadran, acknowledged areas for improvement in batting and fielding, emphasising their focus on rectifying the mistakes made in the first match.
India's Virat Kohli was absent from the game due to "personal reasons," while Afghanistan's spin maestro Rashid Khan continues to recover from a back surgery, remaining out of the series. The second match is scheduled to take place in Indore on Sunday.
