India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Highlights | India beat Afghanistan by 6 wickets as India's next-gen get themselves ready for the big stage

India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the first T20I match of the series in Mohali. Scored only 158 In the first innings on a wicket that had bit of bounce and pace. Axar Patel was superb with his 23/2 and Mukesh Kumar supported him with two wickets as well. Shivam Dube's 60 from 40 balls made sure India defeated the visitors comfortably with 14 balls to go. Dubai was adjudged the player of the match for is performance with both bat and ball.

That was Koushik Biswas bringing you all the LIVE updates of the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I in Mohali. I hope you enjoyed it. Catch the highlights of the match from the LIVE Blog below. We will see you on Sunday during the second T20I.

It is quite fitting that Shivam Dube hit the winning run for India. He has been very good in his comeback series after the demise of Rohit and Gill. India take the 1-0 lead in the three match series. Dube top scores for India with 60 from 40 balls.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 🏠



India defeat Afghanistan comfortably in the first T20I in Mohali courtesy of a fine 60 from 40 balls by Shivam Dube.#INDvAFG #INDvsAFG #ShivamDube #RohitSharma #IndianCricketTeam #India #Cricket pic.twitter.com/gjIctFYok2

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) January 11, 2024

Shivam Dube brings up his second T20I fifty with a single in the deep in just 38 balls. This has been a great inning from the allrounder. India now just need 11 from 18 balls.

Excited about Shivam Dube's batting success, yet equally impressed by his two impactful overs. If he can sustain his bowling prowess, he could be a valuable asset, providing the much-needed balance in white-ball cricket. Well done Team India! #INDvsAFG

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2024

Mujeeb strikes again for Afghanistan. Jitesh looked to pull a tad-short delivery from the leg-spinner but to only find out Ibrahim Zadran in long-on.

Jitesh Sharma and Shivam Dube take India over 100 in the 12th over. India cruising here with 57 needed from 48 balls.

Tilak Verma, batting on 26 from 22 balls, tried to flick a length ball from Azmatullah Omarzai. However, he could only pick out Gulbadin Naib in the deep square leg who ran in hard to take a great catch.

After the departure of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, youngster Tilak Verma and Shivam Dube trying to build up a partnership here. India now need 106 runs in 13 overs.

Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman gets the better of Shubman Gill after going for two boundaries in the over. Gill, who was looking good, tried to step down the crease but missed the ball completely. Rahmanullah Gurbaz did the rest to stump him out for 23 from 12 balls.

A miscommunication from the Indian openers and Rohit Sharma is run out in the first ball of the second inning.

Rohit had completely reached the other end after playing the ball to the long off fielder. Ibrahim Zadran had also fumbled the ball but Gill, who was watching the ball, was not aware that Rohit had already come to the other end. A frustrated Rohit left the field.

Arshdeep has been unlucky here. One dropped catch that went to the boundary, a perfect yorker and Najibullah Zadran was able to get a bat to that. The final over goes for 15 and Afghanistan now have something to fight with the ball. They finish on 158/5 with Nabi top scoring for them with 42.

A good first-inning total from the visitors?



Afghanistan scored 158/5 in the first inning with Mohammed Nabi scoring a valuable 42 from 27 balls for the visitors in Mohali.#INDvAFG #INDvsAFG #indiancricketteam #AxarPatel #ArshdeepSingh #RohitSharma #ShubmanGill #India #Cricket pic.twitter.com/GBVLtz3LOP

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) January 11, 2024

Another short ball from Mukesh Kumar and Nabi tried to go over the boundary. However, he only managed to pick out Rinku Singh in the deep cover who took a great catch running in front of him.

Nabi goes after scoring a valuable 42 from 27 balls.

Omarzai drags on a ball from outside the off-stump to give Mukesh Kumar his first wicket of the match. Their 68-run comes to an end. Azmatullah Omarzai goes after adding 29 from 22 balls.

Under pressure, against two set bowlers, Arshdeep Singh bowled to his field and hit the right length to only give away just five in the over.

Nabi and Omarzai have been solid for the visitors. They have tried to take the attack to the Indian bowlers; specially Ravi Bishnoi. A 16-run over from the leg-spinner and Afghanistan cross 100 in the fifteenth over.

They complete their fifty run partnership in just 32 balls.

It was a tough chance for the Indian captain to clinch on. He had to jump with one hand up and pray that the ball sticks to his hand. Unfortunately, the ball did not stick in his hand. Shivam Dube doing a great job as the third pacer of the team.

Afghanistan are in trouble now with three wickets gone. Rahamat Shah goes for a cut against an armer by Axar Patel. He could only manage to get an inside edge onto the stumps. Axar gets his second.

Half-way mark, the visitors are at 57/3.

It's two quick wickets for India. Shivam Dube gets his first of the night. Zardan tried to slap the ball over the cover. But, only managed to hand out an easy catch to Rohit Sharma. Although no catch is easy here with the temperature being nearly 7-8 degree.

India get their first wicket in Mohali. Gurbaz tried to come out of the crease and make something out of the box. However, Patel was clever enough to slide the ball in between the bad and pad and Jitesh Sharma did the rest to clip the bails off. Gurbaz goes for 23 from 28 balls.

Two sixes in two overs and Afghanistan batters are trying to get going in Mohali. They cross fifty in just 7.4 overs.

Indian captain goes to spin options within the powerplay as we see Axar Patel and Washington Sundar rolling their arm over for one over each within the powerplay.

Axar went for 7 in his first over whole there was only 3 scored from Sundar's over.

The Afghan captain gets a life early in the inning. Arshdeep was tight on his line and length and Zardan wanted to manufacture a shot out of that. He only could manage to give a catch to mid-off but Shivam Dube could not hold on to that diving infornt of him.

The left-armer with the perfect start for India with the ball. A maiden to start with on a wicket that seem to have a bit of bounce and pace too. It's freezing cold in Mohali and players would certainly need more time to get going.

Arshdeep did found some swing upfront and finished the over with a yorker as well.

A statement from BCCI has verified that Yashasvi Jaiswal will be absent from tonight's match due to discomfort in his right groin.

Also Read: India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: This is why Yashashvi Jaiswal missed the 1st T20I in Mohali

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

India have won the toss and have opted to field.

India will take on Afghanistan in the first-ever T20I series between the two countries at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be back at playing the T20Is after November 2022 and it will be a good rehearsal before the T20 World Cup 2024. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will have the opportunity to go shoulder to shoulder against one of the best teams in the world in India. Stay tuned for all the updates of the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I match as we bring you all the news, scores and everything.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I will be televised on ports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD TV. The match can be seen LIVE on Jio Cinema app and website as well.

India: Rohit Sharma (C), S Gill, Y Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, W Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmaullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib

Virat Kohli will be unavailable for selection due to personal reasons. For Afghanistan, star player Rashid Khan will be missing the whole series due to injury.

Also Read: India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Match Preview, Team News, Head-to-Head, Possible Lineups, and Dream XI Prediction

Match | India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I

Date | 11 January, 2024

Time | 7.00 pm

Venue | Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium