Rohit Sharma returned to T20Is with a win - even though he was dismissed for a duck - as India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the first T20I on January 11.
After losing the toss, Afghanistan scored 158 runs on the board after they were struggling at 57-3 at the halfway stage. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar bagged two wickets each as they didn't allow the visitors to post a challenging total.
India won the game by six wickets with 15 balls to spare to get an important 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
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The hosts will now aim to seal the fate of the series in the second match as they face the minnows at Indore.
IND vs AFG 2nd T20I: LIVE updates, scores, and resultsWelcome to the Live Blog for the 2nd T20I between India and Afghanistan in Indore.
10:00pm- INDIA WIN THE 2nd T20I! India finish at 173/4 in 15.4 overs. The Men in Blue have suffocated the Afghanistan bowlers to record a handome victory in Indore. India have chased the 173-run target with over four overs to spare, courtesy of flourishing knocks from Yashasvi Jaiswal (68) and Shivam Dube (63*).
With the win in Indore, the Indians have sealed the three-match T20I series, 2-0. We will see you for the final game in Bangalore.
9:31pm- India are cruising towards the total despite losing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's wickets. The hosts have put up 116 runs for the loss of 2 wickets after 10 overs.
8:46pm- We are back. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma on the crease. Can Afghanistan defender their total?
8:32pm- Afghanistan manage to post 172 runs for the loss of 10 wickets in 20 overs. Gulbadin Naib scored 57 runs while Arshdeep Singh picked up three wickets for India.
7:45pm- Despite losing early wickets, Afghanistan are going strong as they have managed to put up 81 runs at the end of 10 overs. Gulbadin Naib not out on 50.
7:00pm- Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are on the pitch. Here we go.
6:30pm- India have decided to send Afghanistan to bat first after winning the toss. Rohit Sharma confirmed two changes in the Indian lineup as Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal walked into the team in place of Tilav Varma and Shubman Gill.
IND vs AFG: Holkar Stadium pitch reportThe pitch at the Holkar Stadium is an outright batting-friendly pitch. The surface is a bowler's nightmare, with there being negligible help on offer. Moreover, the boundaries are shorter, and the wicket is considered to be flat.
This only helps the batters further. In the most recent T20I on this ground, which was played between India and South Africa, 405 runs were scored as both teams displayed some aggressive batting skills.
On Sunday, we can expect more of the same. The captain that wins the toss, might opt to bat first. In three T20Is on this venue, the team batting first has won two games.
IND vs AFG: LineupsIndia Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar
Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran (C), Noor Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
IND vs AFG: TossIndian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first.
MORE: Why is Virat Kohli not playing in the first T20I?
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