India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 live updates: Axar Patel Shines as Afghanistan Sets a Target of 159

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20’s in the highly anticipated 1st T20 International between India and Afghanistan, Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first paid off initially as Afghanistan faced early setbacks, only to recover later in the innings.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 Match Highlights:

• Toss and Decision: Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to put pressure on the Afghanistan batting lineup.
• Early Pressure: Arshdeep Singh began with a maiden over, and India maintained the pressure, resulting in three wickets falling in quick succession between the 6th and 10th overs.
• Missed Opportunities: Arshdeep Singh could have claimed a wicket in his second over, but a dropped catch by Shivam Dube gave Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran a second chance.
• Axar Patel’s Impact: Axar Patel emerged as the key bowler for India, picking up two crucial wickets, while Shivam Dube redeemed himself by dismissing Zadran.
• Afghanistan’s Fightback: Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai formed a resilient partnership, putting up 68 runs off 43 balls for the fourth wicket.
• Quick Dismissals: Mukesh Kumar ended the partnership by dismissing Omarzai, and Nabi fell later in the same over, scoring 29 off 22 and 42 off 27, respectively.
• Late Flourish: Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat contributed to a good finish for Afghanistan, posting a target of 159 for India to chase.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 Player Updates:

• Injuries Impacting India: Yashasvi Jaiswal was ruled out at the last minute due to a groin injury, adding to the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Avesh Khan.
• Return of Kohli and Rohit: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made a comeback to the T20I format, with Rohit captaining the side. This series serves as a crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
• Opening Pair Dynamics: With Kohli’s return, a notable change was made in the opening lineup, with Jaiswal and Rohit confirmed as India’s first-choice openers.
• Changes in Batting Order: Shubman Gill, initially picked as the third opener, took up Kohli’s spot in the Indian XI for the series opener.

Upcoming Matches and Series Significance:

• Kohli’s Return: Kohli is set to play in the second and third T20Is, marking his return to the T20I arena after a hiatus since November 2022.
• Final T20 World Cup Rehearsal: The Afghanistan series becomes India’s last rehearsal ahead of the T20 World Cup, hosted by West Indies and the United States.
• Challenges for India: With several key players unavailable, including Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Afghanistan missing the services of Rashid Khan, the series promises to be a test of team depth.

In conclusion, as India prepares to chase the target set by Afghanistan, the 1st T20I has already witnessed twists and turns, showcasing the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. The series gains added significance as India aims to fine-tune its squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

India vs Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma Opts to Bowl First in T20 Opener, Virat Kohli Absent for Personal Reasons. In the much-anticipated T20 series opener between India and Afghanistan, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, India faced setbacks with key players being unavailable due to injuries and personal reasons.

Injuries Hit Indian Squad:

• Sanju Samson, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set to miss the match due to injuries, with Jaiswal reportedly not pulling off well according to Rohit Sharma.
• Virat Kohli, who was named in the Indian XI for the Afghanistan series, is unavailable for the first game due to undisclosed ‘personal reasons.’

Batting Lineup Adjustments:

• With Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav absent, Shubman Gill is expected to take the number 3 spot in the batting lineup.
• Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been confirmed as the opening pair by coach Rahul Dravid.
• Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Sanju Samson are expected to fill the gaps in the top 6 Indian batting lineup.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 Afghanistan’s Blow with Rashid Khan’s Absence:

• Afghanistan suffered a major setback as star bowler Rashid Khan has been ruled unfit for the T20 series.
• Coach Jonathan Trott acknowledged Rashid’s absence and expressed curiosity about who would step up to fill the key player’s role.

Coach Trott’s Comments:

• Trott mentioned in the pre-match press conference, “We are going to miss a player like Rashid, his leadership, and the overall package he brings to the side.”
• He emphasized the opportunity for other players to step up and take responsibility, especially in the absence of a key player like Rashid Khan.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 Broadcast Details:

• Viacom18 announced exclusive live coverage of the three-match T20I series on JioCinema, Sports18-1 SD + HD, and Colors Cineplex.
• JioCinema will provide coverage in multiple languages, catering to a diverse audience.

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20 Confirmed Squads: India:

• Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (w), Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi

Afghanistan:

• Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Karim Janat, Ikram Alikhil, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib

The stage is set for an exciting clash between India and Afghanistan, with both teams facing challenges in their respective lineups. Cricket enthusiasts can catch the action live on the mentioned platforms, eagerly anticipating which players will rise to the occasion in the absence of key figures like Rashid Khan and Virat Kohli.