4.6 overs (1 Run) Another short delivery, on leg, Gulbadin Naib nudges it towards short fine leg, there is a bit of hesitation between the batters, but they complete the run safely in the end.
4.5 overs (1 Run) Drags his length back and around off, Ibrahim Zadran punches it towards long off for a run.
4.5 overs (1 Run) Darts this one short but down the leg side, Ibrahim Zadran misses his glance and Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps moves to his left to collect it well.
4.4 overs (1 Run) Flatter, full and on middle, angling in, Gulbadin Naib stays back and clips it towards deep mid-wicket for just a single this time.
4.3 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! It's raining boundaries here in Indore!
4.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! His intents are pretty clear tonight. Full length delivery wide outside off, Gulbadin Naib hits it on the up with a huge stride ahead and smashes it over extra cover for a boundary.
4.1 overs (6 Runs) SIX! They are opening the flood gates upfront! Over the wicket and short in length, Gulbadin Naib rocks back and just hammers the pull over deep mid wicket for a biggie.
3.6 overs (1 Run) Ends with a shortish delivery into the bodyline of the batter, Gulbadin Naib is hurried on the pull and miscues it and it rolls in the vacant backward short leg region for a single.
3.5 overs (0 Run) Back of a length at the off pole, Gulbadin Naib gets behind the line of the ball and pushes it to mid off.
3.4 overs (0 Run) Short again and around off and bowls it slow, Gulbadin Naib looks to pull but the ball dies on the bounce and through to the keeper.
3.3 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! That's two in two for Naib! This is a poor delivery and it gets the treatment. A low full toss outside off, Gulbadin Naib reaches out for it and simply eases this one through point and there's no one stopping this as it races away to the fence for another boundary.
3.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Now that's some way to get into the act. Short of a length and just outside off channel, Gulbadin Naib is rooted deep in the crease and spreads himself on the back foot and short arm jabs it towards mid-wicket region for a boundary.
3.1 overs (1 Run) Over the wicket and on a nagging length around off, Ibrahim Zadran stands on his toes and punches it off the back foot to backward point for a single.
2.6 overs (1 Run) Flatter, full and around off, Ibrahim Zadran drills it through covers for one, they think about the two, but Rinku Singh is very quick to get to the ball in the deep and keeps it to one.
2.5 overs (1 Run) A googly now, short and on middle, Gulbadin Naib tucks it through mid-wicket for a run.
2.4 overs (0 Run) Quicker, short and on off, Gulbadin Naib stays back to play at it but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball goes nowhere.
2.3 overs (0 Run) Flighted, full and on off, Gulbadin Naib pushes it towards covers.
Gulbadin Naib walks out to bat at number 3.
2.2 overs (0 Run) OUT! CAUGHT! Ravi Bishnoi strikes once again in his very first over! He bowls it full and outside off under the hitting arc of Gurbaz who clears his front leg to smack it over mid on, but doesn't get enough wood on it and the ball lobs over from the bottom half of his bat. Shivam Dube who is stationed at mid on takes an absolute sitter. Ravi Bishnoi draws the first blood for India as Rahmanullah Gurbaz walks back to the hut.
2.1 overs (0 Run) On a back of a length again in the channel outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz plays late and opens the face of the bat and pushes it to left of short extra cover.
1.6 overs (0 Run) On a length and around off, Ibrahim Zadran taps it wide of covers and calls for the single, but he is sent back by his partner.
1.5 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Now that's salt on the wounds. Short length outside off, Ibrahim Zadran backs away and makes room for him and frees his arms through point for a cracking boundary.
1.4 overs (0 Run) On a hard length outside off, Ibrahim Zadran doesn't move an inch and throws his hands at it. The keeps low and misses the inside edge through to the keeper.
1.3 overs (0 Run) APPEAL! But the umpire turns it down and Rohit Sharma has gone upstairs. Pitches on a back of a length that zips back from the off stump, Ibrahim Zadran goes for a drive with a straight bat to the mid on region but gets beaten on through to the keeper. Rohit Sharma decides to review it after some discussion with Jitesh Sharma. The replays come in and the UltraEdge shows that there is no bat involved and it brushed on the thigh of Zadran. The umpire checks for LBW and the Ball Tracker shows the impact is Umpire's Call. Ibrahim Zadran survives but India keeps the review.
1.2 overs (1 Run) Back of a length and outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz opens the face of the bat and punches it to deep backward point for a single.
1.1 overs (6 Runs) SIX! Now that is some shot! Bowls from over the wicket outside off and full, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets on the front foot and thumps it straight down the ground with a good amount of wood on it and deposits it in the advertisement boards for a biggie.
Mukesh Kumar to share the attack.
0.6 over (0 Run) On a back of a length this time on the stumps, Ibrahim Zadran blocks it with straight bat to end the over.
0.5 over (1 Run) Slower now on a length at the middle stump, Rahmanullah Gurbaz plays it off the back foot and drops it in front of cover-point for a single.
0.4 over (2 Runs) Up in the air...but safe! Back of a length at the middle stump line by Arshdeep Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shimmies down the track and lofts it over the bowler which falls right in between the chasing mid on and mid off fielders. They sprint for a quick double. Attacking intent upfront from Gurbaz this.
0.3 over (0 Run) On a back of a length around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pushes this one straight to Rohit Sharma at short cover.
0.2 over (0 Run) Fuller and outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz strides ahead and drives it straight to cover.
0.1 over (4 Runs) FOUR! Gurbaz is underway! First runs of the bat as he pitches on a fuller length with a good amount of in-swing, Rahmanullah Gurbaz plants his leg ahead and simply flicks it through the mid-wicket region for a boundary.
0.1 over (1 Run) WIDE! Will have to reload that one again! This is bowled down the leg side with a considerable in-swing which goes through to the keeper.
0.1 over (1 Run) Starts off with the Wide! Not an ideal start as this is bowled way outside off angling across the tramline. Rahmanullah Gurbaz leaves it happily.
We are all set to begin! The big bell has been rung and the players make their way out in the middle now. The Indian players spread out and take their respective field positions. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are the two openers for Afghanistan. Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...
Ibrahim Zadran, the captain of Afghanistan says that they will try to bat well and put a good score on the board. Adds that they also wanted to bowl first due to the conditions and the ground being a small one. Tells that they made some mistakes in the last game and they have discussed about it and will look to execute their plans better. Says that Rahmat Shah is not playing and Noor Ahmad comes in for him. Ends by saying that playing an extra spinner is a tactical decision considering the ground conditions.
Rohit Sharma, the skipper of India says there's no particular reason to bowl first and that it's just the nature of the ground. He says that it's a chasing ground with pretty small boundaries. He's happy with the previous game and says that the guys are executing the plans being spoken to them. Says that they have asked for specific roles for the guys and they are doing accordingly so far. not much, they don't have any baggage and it is all about backing them, allowing them to be free on the ground. He says that they will do things keeping the World Cup in mind, but adds that they they know results are also important. Further adds that they want to try out a few things but the end result also matters a lot and winning is more important than anything. There's a huge roar in the crowd as he says Virat Kohli is in the XI with Yashasvi Jaiswal in place of Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill.
Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Noor Ahmad (In place of Rahmat Shah), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
India (Playing XI) - Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal (In place of Shubman Gill), Virat Kohli (In place of Tilak Varma), Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar.
TOSS - The coin goes up and lands in favor of Rohit Sharma. India have elected to BOWL first.
PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta is pitchside and says that this ground is small and we can expect a lot of boundaries. Nick Knight joins him and says that it's pretty much flat and traditionally a very high-scoring venue and obviously the smaller boundaries are one of the reasons. Adds that the surface is really flat and the cracks are firm. Tells that there won't be any turn but maybe a bit of a little movement initially with the new ball for the pacers. He ends by saying that the team who wins would look to bat under the lights and with the dew coming, batting first will have an additional advantage.
Also, the good news for all the staunch cricket enthusiasts is that the two greats of the sport, Rohit Sharma, who is standing on the cusp of his 150th T20 International, and Virat Kohli will be together seen donning the Blues in the shortest format for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2022 Semi-Final.
Afghanistan, though posted a decent total last time, thanks to the ‘President' Mohammad Nabi's fantastic knock down the order. However, the tourists missed the magic of Rashid Khan due to a back injury and that huge void was indeed felt. The hosts clinched the victory, and now, India's eyes are set on sealing the series in Indore. The anticipation is through the roof, and we're in for another exciting showdown! Toss and team sheets coming up very soon, so stay tuned for the play-by-play action. Let the games begin!
Hello and a warm welcome to our live coverage of the second T20I clash between India and Afghanistan at the Holkar Stadium in Indore! India's spirits are soaring sky-high after a stellar performance in Mohali, led by Shivam Dube's scintillating 60 off 40 in the run chase and a crucial wicket in the first inning. Youngster Jitesh Sharma, too, added fireworks with the bat and stabilized the middle order and Rinku Singh helped India chase 158, and with Virat Kohli back in the pack for the rest of the series, the team looks rock-solid and much more assured.
...MATCH DAY...
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