Despite not participating in the nets on Wednesday evening, Shivam Dube’s unexpected chance in the first of three T20 Internationals against Afghanistan proved pivotal. Initially considered out of contention, Dube’s inclusion became necessary due to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s injury, and he seized the opportunity.
Employing his medium-paced bowling, Dube effectively controlled the run rate and secured the crucial wicket of Afghanistan’s captain, Ibrahim Zadran. Stepping in to bat after India lost both openers, Dube partnered with Tilak Varma, provided support to Jitesh Sharma, collaborated with Rinku Singh, and eventually reached his second T20I fifty in 38 balls. India comfortably chased the target of 159 with two and a half overs to spare, securing a six-wicket victory.
Dube’s career trajectory changed after joining the Chennai Super Kings, where he received valuable advice from MS Dhoni. Dhoni encouraged him to be fearless, which significantly impacted Dube’s confidence. While comparisons with Hardik Pandya may be unjust, given Dube’s role as a batsman who occasionally bowls, his recent success, including a six-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy against Bihar, underscores his growing versatility.
Although not the most fluent against pacers and known for his struggles with short-pitched deliveries, Dube’s potential has been effectively maximized by Chennai and Dhoni, particularly in dismantling spinners during the middle overs. In the recent match, the left-hander remained unbeaten on 60 off 40 balls, playing a crucial role in guiding his team to victory.
Nightmare return for Rohit
In the chilly backdrop of the PCA Stadium in Mohali on a January evening, Rohit Sharma’s return to India’s T20 team saw a brief stint with the bat, lasting just two balls. The India captain, making his T20 comeback after 14 months since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss to England, found himself run out by his opening partner Shubman Gill.
Expressing visible frustration, Rohit gestured intensely towards Gill before heading back to the pavilion without adding any runs to the scoreboard. Rohit faced challenges, having joined the Indian team late due to a flight delay caused by fog. Adding to the hurdles, he dropped Azmatullah Omarzai, contributing to Afghanistan’s total of 158 for 5.
With Rohit’s early dismissal, Gill took charge, showcasing entertaining strokeplay. During his brief 12-ball stint at the crease, it appeared that the young batsman was eager to swiftly finish the match. However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman deserves credit for bouncing back after being hit for two boundaries. He outfoxed the Indian opener with a quicker delivery, resulting in Gill getting stumped.
Gill, originally expected to bat at No. 3, opened the innings due to Jaiswal’s absence, as the latter was unavailable due to a sore right groin. With Virat Kohli slated to play the next two games, the batting order is poised for an interesting shuffle.
T20I regulars impress
Jitesh experienced a heartwarming return to his IPL home ground with the Punjab Kings, where his impressive shot-making skills had previously garnered attention. As India’s unexpected top-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in this format, he once again demonstrated why his bold batting style is well-suited for the middle order. Jitesh’s quick 31-run contribution rescued India from a challenging situation.
Following Jitesh’s dismissal, Rinku, who received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd, played his finishing role with precision. Before that, seamers Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar delivered decent performances, but it was Axar Patel who highlighted why he should be the preferred spin all-rounder over Ravindra Jadeja. Despite initially being Jadeja’s understudy, Axar has notably improved in the past few years. Although not as swift in the field as Jadeja, he holds his own and showcased his cricketing intelligence by varying his pace to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz and debutant Rahmat Shah.
Cold outing for Afghans
Despite arriving three days ahead of the match and having three net sessions, the Afghanistan team appeared to be struggling in all three departments compared to India, who had only one net session.
With the exception of the veteran Mohammad Nabi, the Afghan batsmen failed to capitalize on their starts. The bowling performance was subpar, and their fielding was sloppy. Weather conditions may have played a role, as the temperature dropped from 12 to seven degrees when Afghanistan took the field. The dew factor further compounded their challenges, leading to their seamers conceding a significant number of runs.
To stand a chance against India in the upcoming two games of the series, Afghanistan will need to deliver exceptional performances and go above and beyond their usual capabilities.
