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In a remarkable display of batting prowess, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal propelled India to a convincing six-wicket victory over Afghanistan, scoring an impressive 68 runs off 34 balls at the Holkar Stadium. Jaiswal’s stellar performance, marking his fourth T20I fifty, played a pivotal role in India sealing the series win with a game still to be played in Bengaluru on January 17.
Expressing his post-match sentiments, Jaiswal shared his intention to maintain a good strike rate throughout the successful chase of Afghanistan’s target of 173. He emphasized his commitment to punishing loose deliveries and contributing to a solid start for the team. Jaiswal had missed the opening T20I in Mohali due to a groin strain but returned with a determined mindset to contribute to the team’s cause.
“I have been told to go and express myself, and I was trying to do that. I was trying to punish the loose balls and was focused on giving my team a good start. If I gave a good start, I was trying to bat as deep as I could. I was trying to keep my strike rate good. I wanted to keep batting with a good strike rate,” said Jaiswal during the post-match press conference.
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Jaiswal, who shared a valuable 57-run partnership for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (29 off 16 balls), expressed his admiration for batting alongside the Indian captain. He highlighted the learning opportunities and positive vibes created during their time at the crease.
“It was nice to be there. Whenever I bat with Virat Bhaiya, I get to learn a lot. In this match also, we had small chats on where we could hit (boundaries). We decided that it was easy to hit over long-on or mid-off. The intent was there, and there were positive vibes as well. We were just trying to hit good shots,” Jaiswal shared.
Shivam Dube, who contributed an unbeaten 63 in the successful chase, expressed his satisfaction with his T20 form, especially with the Men’s T20 World Cup approaching. He credited the skipper for his encouragement and acknowledged their shared strategy to attack the opposition bowlers.
Dube stated, “The skipper is really happy with my performance; he told me well played. We (him and Jaiswal) both are stroke players, we know our game. My role was to take on the spinners, but our plan was to both attack and finish the game early.”
Reflecting on the T20 format, Dube emphasized the mental aspect of the game, addressing the importance of handling pressure and making strategic decisions against different bowlers. He highlighted the evolving nature of T20 cricket, emphasizing the significance of mental preparedness alongside skill development.
In summary, the dynamic partnership of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube played a crucial role in India’s series-clinching victory against Afghanistan, showcasing their batting prowess and setting an optimistic tone ahead of the T20 World Cup.
-IANS
