The second T20I of the three-match series between Rohit Sharma led Indian National Cricket Team and the Afghanistan national cricket team led by Ibrahim Zadran played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 14.
India were heading into the match with a 1-0 lead as they won the first game by 6 wickets, thanks to Shivam Dube’s heroics in Mohali. In the second game, the Men in Blue won the toss and opted to pitch first in the match and the decision was criticized by many.
Batting first, Gulbadin Naib, who came into bat at number 3, emerged as the best performer for the Afghans. He showed pure class and batted brilliantly against the good Indian bowling attack. The all-rounder played an aggressive style of cricket and scored 57 runs off 35 balls, including 5 fours and 4 sixes.
Najibullah Zadran (23), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (21) and Karim Janat (20) also made good contributions as the visitors were able to put 172 runs on the board. For the home team, Arshdeep Singh took three wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel bagged two wickets each.
Chasing the target, Rohit Sharma bagged a golden duck while Fazalhaq Farooqi cleaned it up. This was his second consecutive duck as he was also dismissed for a duck in the first game.
However, after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli played an attacking style of cricket and unleashed an attack on Afghanistan’s bowling unit. Jaiswal scored 68 runs off 34 balls, with 5 fours and 6 sixes, and Kohli scored 29 runs off 16 balls, with 5 fours.
In the end, Shivam Dube remained unbeaten alongside Rinku Singh and guided India to a magnificent 6-wicket victory in 15.4 overs. Dube scored a brilliant 63 runs off 32 balls, with 5 fours and 4 sixes. The Men in Blue have taken a 2-0 lead in the series with one game remaining. The Men in Blue would hope to win the third and final T20I match of the series to record a 3-0 whitewash. Notably, this is India’s last T20I assignment before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Here’s how X fans reacted to India’s victory over Afghanistan in the second T20I:
Shivam Dube has really been India’s shining star in this series so far. He batted at 4 for India just like he does for CSK. He has also contributed as a bowler, which bodes well for India. Yashasvi at the top showed solid intention and in my opinion it is necessary to persist in it.
– Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) January 14, 2024
60*(40) in the first game.
63*(31) in the second game.This is the arrival of Shivam Dube, what a fantastic batting performance 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XJUQgoQOCu
—Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 14, 2024
Shivam Dube is unlucky that they stopped having that six-hit contest after the IPL matches.
– Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 14, 2024
The most improved youngster in world cricket, Yashasvi Jaiswal. The 6 sweetest hitters. #INDvsAFG #Jaiswal
– Wasay Habib (@wwasay) January 14, 2024
Point of view: Shivam Dube is batting. pic.twitter.com/bXdcJnbSoM
– Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) January 14, 2024
What if one of the Rohit or Kohli has a bad IPL? Will the BCCI have the courage to discard one and select the other for the WC?
– Sara Waris (@swaris16) January 14, 2024
Jaiswal and Arshdeep would be safe picks if I had to pick the T20 team tomorrow
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 14, 2024
India can win @T20WorldCup . But if the selectors ignore the big explosive batsmen and choose to play with players of previous reputations. I’ll wish them the best but they won’t take my money. The T20 format continues to innovate at a good pace. This is an amazing visualization. #INDvAFG
—John Wright (@johnwright15) January 14, 2024
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma enjoying Yashasvi Jaiswal & Shivam Dube’s show.
#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/ejV8K30eOA– Kuldeep Singh (@kuldeepjani_C) January 14, 2024
The two heroes of the party, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal. 🫡
what intention #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/tIbcI8v61V
-Akshat (@AkshatOM10) January 14, 2024
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube against Afghan bowlers in Indore tonight. #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/9opvHvMxyx
– Gems of Adverts (@GemsofAdverts) January 14, 2024
Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal under the captaincy of Hitman Rohit Sharma 💯.
Selfless captain Rohit Sharma and team India bid farewell to Hardik Pandya 🤣.#RohitSharma #INDvsAFG #RohitSharma #ShivamDube #ViratKohli #Gill #KingKohli #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/GdANs3cmS1
—Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) January 14, 2024
koli
Jaiswal
DARLING
dube
Hardik
RinkuGod knows this lineup would be illegal, so he added Rohit Sharma at the top. pic.twitter.com/SlI7pZ0iJh
– Beast (@Beast_xx_) January 14, 2024
Congratulations to India, winner, Jaiswal/Dube and Kohli wao.
— mohsinali (@mohsinaliisb) January 14, 2024
Impressive win for India again. Afghanistan is no pushover in this format. The big disappointment for India would be Rohit’s second consecutive duck. In my opinion, it doesn’t jeopardize his place in the team, but the players Jaiswal, Dube, etc. They show that they are hungry to make a mark and be in the Indian team.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 14, 2024
Jaiswal in T20: pic.twitter.com/bt5ioGryzX
– Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 14, 2024
Tandav🔥 by Jaiswal and Shivam Dube#INDvAFG #shivamdube #jaiswal
— Abhishek Saini (@Abhi_ksaini) January 14, 2024
💀 #AFGvsIND #INDVAFG Shivam Dube, Rohit Sharma, yashasvi jaiswal, hardik, Indore. pic.twitter.com/uZUU6kKJA3
— Cricdox (@cricdox) January 14, 2024
Well played Shivam and Yashasvi, they made it look so easy! Congratulations to Team India for sealing the series 👏🏽 #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/EwZxKesU3e
—Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 14, 2024