In the frosty grip of the North Indian winter, Mohali hosted an exciting T20 encounter that began with a bone-chilling evening with a numb temperature of 8 degrees Celsius. As the cold wave tightened its grip on the region, cricketing activities on the field promised to warm the hearts of the fans.
Returning to the T20I format, Rohit Sharma won the toss and took advantage of the cold conditions to field first. Unfazed by the bitter cold, Afghanistan managed to score a competitive score of 158-5 in 20 overs on a batsman-friendly pitch.
India’s disciplined bowling unit played a crucial role in limiting Afghanistan’s innings. Despite the challenging weather, the bowlers maintained their composure and controlled most of the opposition innings. The half-century partnership between Omarzai and Nabi emerged as a relief for Afghanistan, taking their total beyond 150 runs.
However, in reply, India suffered an early blow as Rohit Sharma was run out for a duck in the very first over. Gill made a promising start but Mujeeb stopped him, Team India gradually changed gears after a slow powerplay of 36 runs.
The departure of Tilak Verma in the 20s brought a brief interruption to India’s progress. Nevertheless, Jitesh Sharma and Shivam Dube took the initiative and stitched a crucial 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their collaborative efforts ensured that India maintained control over the chase.
IND vs AFG: Fans heap praise on Shivam Dube after scoring half-century against Afghanistan
Dubey in particular garnered headlines by scoring a half-century and leading the team to victory.
Joining three crucial 40+ partnerships, Dube remained unbeaten till the end and led India to a comfortable win on a cold Mohali evening.
The strength of Indian cricket, Shivam Dube has an amazing ability to cross boundaries effortlessly, which makes him an important asset for the team. His class was showcased during his tenure under MS Dhoni at CSK in 2023, where he emerged as a revelation while honing his skills under the guidance of the veteran.
As India prepares for the T20 World Cup in 2024, Dube’s all-round abilities have become crucial, especially in the wake of injury concerns of Hardik Pandya. Dube’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball adds an important dimension to India’s campaign, making him an indispensable player in pursuit of glory.
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