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After dominant displays from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and all-rounder Shivam Dube, India secured a series victory against Afghanistan with a convincing six-wicket win. Captain Rohit Sharma expressed satisfaction, noting that his team has successfully addressed key aspects in both matches.
In the match at Holkar Stadium, Rohit faced an early dismissal, scoring a golden duck in India’s pursuit of 173. However, impressive innings of 68 (34 balls) from Jaiswal and an unbeaten 63 (32 balls) from Dube, featuring a substantial 92-run partnership, ensured India reached the target with 26 balls to spare.
Rohit Sharma praised the team’s clarity in execution, stating, “We’ve ticked a lot of boxes in the last two games.” He commended Jaiswal’s growth, who has now played Test and T20I cricket, and Dube’s impactful contributions as a powerful player against spinners.
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Despite Rohit’s second successive duck on his 150th T20I appearance, he expressed joy over reaching this significant milestone, reflecting on his cricket journey since 2007.
With the ball, left-arm spinner Axar Patel claimed 2-17, while Arshdeep Singh took three wickets to bowl out Afghanistan for 172, despite Gulbadin Naib’s 57. Axar, earning the Player of the Match award, credited his success to variations in pace and sticking to bowling plans in T20Is.
Axar shared his bowling strategy, stating, “You need to be mentally prepared as a bowler in T20 cricket.” He emphasized the importance of consistency and maintaining confidence in executing plans, even in challenging situations.
Afghanistan’s captain Ibrahim Zadran acknowledged Naib’s performance but lamented his team’s inconsistency throughout the game, noting the need to address mistakes ahead of the T20 World Cup.
In summary, India’s T20 series win showcased stellar performances from Jaiswal, Dube, and Axar Patel, highlighting the team’s well-rounded capabilities. The victory bodes well as India gears up for future T20 challenges, including the upcoming World Cup.
–IANS
