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India vs Afghanistan 2024 Cricket

'Credit goes to Thala' - Fans react as Shivam Dube's superb all-round performance hands India 6-wicket win over Afghanistan in 1st T20I

Shivam Dube was awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance, picking up a wicket and scoring 60 runs off 40 balls.

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Mathew K
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Rohit Sharma & Shivam Dube (Source: Twitter)

Rohit Sharma & Shivam Dube (Source: Twitter)

India opened their first T20I match of 2024 with a resounding 6-wicket win over Afghanistan. The ongoing three-match series is the Men in Blue's final T20I assignment before the World Cup in June and managed to take a 1-0 lead. The visitors were outclassed at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, continuing their quest for a maiden win against India in the shortest format. 

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Inserted to bat first, the Afghanistan openers gave a solid start for the team but they failed to keep the run rate in check. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and captain Ibrahim Zadran stitched a fifty-plus partnership but both were dismissed in a span of three deliveries. Axar Patel took his second wicket by dismissing Rahmat Shah in the 10th over to reduce the opposition to 57/3.

Mohammad Nabi joined Azmatullah Omarzai and then provided some life to their innings by forging a crucial partnership. Ravi Bishnoi, who conceded 35 runs off his 3 overs, was the main prey of the two right-handers. Mukesh Kumar removed both in the 18th over, but Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat hit five boundaries in the last two overs to bring the team's score close to 160. 

Dube shines with a wicket and crucial half-century 

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India's chasing innings got off to a poor start as captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the very first over due to a terrible mix-up with Shubman Gill. The young opener then struck five boundaries but his cameo came to an early end when Mujeeb ur Rahman dominated the 4th over. India managed to score just 36 runs off the powerplay. 

Tilak Varma contributed 26 runs but it came at a strike rate of less than 120. Things turned in India's favour when Jitesh Sharma (31 of 20 balls) joined Shivam Dube. The duo forged a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket and ensured that India were ahead in the chase. Dube notched up a brave fifty and was involved in three 40+ partnerships before taking his team over the line.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder was awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance, picking up a wicket and scoring 60 runs off 40 balls. Rinku Singh also remained unbeaten with 16 runs off 9 balls.

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Here's how fans reacted to India's win against Afghanistan in the first T20I:

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