Team India secured a convincing 6-wicket victory against Afghanistan at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali, extending their unbeaten streak in T20Is against the spirited visitors. Opting to bowl first, India successfully restricted Afghanistan to a total of 158/5. Axar Patel showcased his prowess with commendable figures of 2/23 in 4 overs, while Mukesh Kumar also contributed with a couple of wickets, ending with figures of 2/33.
In response, Shivam Dube’s match-winning half-century propelled India to a winning start in the 3-match series. Beyond the intense cricketing battle, the Mohali weather emerged as a formidable adversary for the players. With pervasive fog and temperatures plummeting as low as 7 degrees Celsius, bowlers faced a herculean task to keep their bodies warm and maintain precision in their deliveries.
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Axar Patel, the standout performer with the ball for India, acknowledged the challenging weather conditions in Mohali. “I wasn’t feeling the ball; it was very cold. We knew it was winter and would be cold, but I was only thinking about my bowling and how to put pressure on them. There was a lot of dew, but I focused on my accuracy,” Axar Patel shared during the mid-innings show.
Axar Patel’s unusual request to combat Mohali’s freezing cold turned down by umpire
“I asked him, but he said no”#AxarPatel #INDvAFGhttps://t.co/CZFfH1PgeE
— HT Sports (@HTSportsNews) January 12, 2024
In a revealing insight, Axar Patel disclosed that he had sought permission from the umpire to wear a glove on his non-bowling arm, a request that was ultimately rejected. “I had asked the umpire if I can wear a glove in one hand, but he said no,” he added.
Earlier in the game, Afghanistan displayed resilience with a lively 68-run partnership off 43 balls between Mohammad Nabi (42) and Azmatullah Omarzai (29). Despite India dominating the powerplay, the total posted by Afghanistan proved insufficient in favorable batting conditions.
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India comfortably chased down the target in 17.3 overs, with Dube, playing his first T20 since the Asian Games, and Tilak Varma (26 off 22) leading the charge. Jitesh Sharma (31 off 20) also made a significant contribution before Rinku Singh (16 not out off 9) partnered with Dube to steer India to victory.
