India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Full Commentary

Welcome back for India's batting reply. The Afghans are in a huddle before they scatter throughout the field and take their respective positions. Abhishek Sharma walks out with Sanju Samson to open the innings for India. Fazalhaq Farooqi has the new ball and is raring to go. Samson is taking the strike.

... The Run Chase ...

A middling total - 157 is by no means a threatening target with the batting firepower India have at their disposal. But make no mistake, their top order has been a bit inconsistent of late and if the Afghans manage to break the first wall early, this could set up a mouth-watering contest. It is an important game for someone like Samson, who has scored just 33 runs in his last four innings, with three single digit scores. Even Abhishek, who has scored just 30 runs in his last five outings. But on a fairly good batting track, they will look to feast. Back in a bit for the run chase.

The Omarzai show - Afghanistan were rattled early, with half the side blown away before they could settle. Ibrahim and Atal looked comfortable while they lasted, but the innings unravelled from 38/1 to 43/5 in a hurry. With stability badly needed, Nabi and Omarzai came together and produced a rollicking stand of 83 to drag their side out of trouble. In a desperate aim to stop the carnage, Arshdeep was brought back into the attack and he answered the call by removing Nabi. And because of that, Bumrah and Arshdeep squeezed in a couple of quiet overs, displaying their death bowling mastery. But with Omarzai at the crease, and the kind of form he is in, he just went bang-bang in the climax by taking Dube to the cleaners to help Afghanistan breach 150.

3.44 pm GMT (9.14 pm IST) - It was turning out to be a brilliant finish with the ball for India but that final over has swung the momentum back to the Afghans. Although the score on the board still might not look sufficient enough, but at one point, the Afghans didn't even look to breach three digits. It was a night to forget for the likes of Nitish and the Dube experiment in the final over went awry for the Men in Blue. In a combined three overs, they have leaked 51 runs with the others bowling exceptionally well on the other hand.

Who will bowl the last over? Nitish? Or does Dube have an outside chance? Voila! He has. Shivam Dube will wrap it up. Omarzai has the strike so the Afghans can definitely breach 150.

Afghanistan are badly falling apart in the back end of the innings. They have slipped from 126/5 to 131/8. That brings Mujeeb Ur Rahman to the crease.

Noor Ahmad is in at number 9 with 10 balls left in the first innings.

Decision-making time for Shreyas. Will he bring Arshdeep for the penultimate over? If yes, it will leave him with Nitish for the final over, who has been pretty expensive so far. And yes, he continues with Arshdeep Singh (3-0-15-2) for the 19th.

A sensational over from Arshdeep amid the carnage. Just 7 runs from it. Right, three overs to go. Jasprit Bumrah (3-0-24-1) has one over left, and he is back on to bowl out.

That's a wrap - Just a day's break and the two teams will meet again here in Delhi on Tuesday, 15th September. India will be keen to wrap up the series, while Afghanistan will be desperate for a response. They will need a much-improved showing with both bat and ball if they are to put Shreyas Iyer and his men under pressure and keep the series alive. The game will begin at 2 pm GMT (7.30 pm IST), but as always, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The skipper of India - Shreyas Iyer, about the field placements and bowling execution, feels really happy to see the synergy on the field. He heaps praise on Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a great asset and a genuine match-winner. Continues by adding that the early breakthroughs set the tone and built momentum from the start. Also credits Arshdeep's bowling, saying he followed up with a brilliant spell of his own, with Axar and Varun continuing the pressure after him. Overall, Iyer calls this bowling performance a phenomenal effort. On handing Dube the final over, Iyer says there weren't many options left. Also admits it was a tough ask for him too, coming on fresh for the 20th over without a real feel for the pace of the wicket or how it was behaving. Details that he is not overly concerned, though, and adds that Dube will go back and work out exactly what needs fixing. On Abhishek's batting display and Kishan's form, Iyer starts by praising Abhishek, calling his strokeplay flawless and exemplary through the innings. Turning to Kishan, he says he is in excellent touch right now, and points to how settled he has looked both in the dressing room and during practice. Calls Kishan calm, relaxed, and clearly assured of his game.

The captain of Afghanistan - Ibrahim Zadran says it was not the result they wanted. He feels they got off to a good start but then lost a cluster of wickets, which put them under pressure. Ibrahim says they batted well through the middle phase but ultimately did not have enough runs on the board. Zadran also feels his run-out was a turning point in the innings. He says India are a top fielding side and praises Ishan Kishan for his accurate throw in the run-out. Mentions that Rahmanullah Gurbaz did not have his day, but backs him to come back stronger.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Abhishek Sharma takes home the award for his scintillating knock of 82 runs off 32 balls, studded with 7 fours and as many sixes. Abhishek says getting a catch in the first over, that too in the slips, makes one feel really confident. Mentions that when they face Bumrah during the net sessions, it feels like they are facing the first few overs of a Test match. Details that they are always on their toes in the slips when he bowls. On the team's consistency, Sharma points back two years to a clear decision to play an aggressive brand of cricket and dominate opponents ahead of the World Cup. He adds that while the results have largely gone their way, and a series or two shouldn't define them as a batting unit. Stresses that the team always comes first, and that a fast start usually puts them well ahead when chasing something in the 150 to 160 range.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Recovered, but not enough - Returning to T20Is after a period away, India were not at their best with the ball upfront, but still managed to have Afghanistan 5 down inside 7 overs. At 43/5, two experienced campaigners, Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai, came together to steady the ship, putting on an 83-run stand for the 6th wicket. Nabi's departure was followed by a quiet period for the Afghans, but Omarzai batted through to provide the final flourish and give his side something to work with. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy were among the pick of the bowlers for India, with both keeping things miserly. Arshdeep claimed 3 wickets, while Varun chipped in with one.

Sunday special from Sharma - The back of the chase was broken in the Powerplay itself, with Abhishek Sharma ensuring that, after a quiet tour of Zimbabwe, normal service resumed. Watchful at the start, the southpaw soon shifted gears and teed off, leaving Afghanistan scrambling for answers. They repeatedly missed their mark against Sharma and could not come up with a plan to contain him. A 121-run stand between Sharma and Ishan Kishan sealed the fate of the game, with the chase completed inside 14 overs.

India canter home - A chase of 157 was made to look ridiculously easy by the reigning T20I champions. India remain the only team Afghanistan are yet to beat in international cricket among the Full Members. Pegged back early with the bat, the Ibrahim Zadran-led unit were always playing catch-up from there, and India proved far too good for them.

The new batter is Tilak Varma.

Could be the last over of the game. India need 11 runs to win from 48 balls.

Abhishek's overdrive finally switches off. No real celebration from Rashid and the others as they know the game has gone far away from them. Shreyas Iyer walks in at number 4.