IND VS AFG - 2nd T20I, Afghanistan tour of India, 2024

Does anyone remember that Rohit Sharma has two ducks on his return to T20I cricket? Because the rest of his pals are ensuring everyone forgets that, and making winning a sweet, sweet habit for India. Today, the two southpaws from Mumbai stepped up in the chase and proved why India are just a clear cut above the rest while playing at home. Series sealed, but there’s another run fest waiting for us at the Chinnaswamy on Wednesday. See you then, this is Saurabh Shankar signing off on behalf of Akshay Maanay and Harish.

Axar Patel | Player of the Match: Feels good, I just realised that I have got 200 T20 wickets. But what is important to keep doing well for India, honestly a few years later I won't remember how many wickets I took. I have been trying to bowl a bit slower, vary my lengths and now I have been to gauge these things better. Now I have the confidence to bowl at all times, even in the powerplay. You need to be mentally prepared as a bowler in T20 cricket. Ready to concede a six because that same ball could get you a wicket on another day. Earlier, I used to vary my plans if a batter was hitting me, but now I stick to my plans and make the batters take the chance against me.

Rohit Sharma: It is a great feeling, it has been a long journey starting way back in 2007. I've cherished every moment I have spent here. We have been clear with what we wanted to do, very clear message to everyone and when you see a performance like that, you can be really proud. One thing is talking about it, but to actually go there and play that way is a proud feeling. The last two games, we've ticked a lot of boxes. They've had a great couple of years, Jaiswal has played Test cricket now and even T20I. He has shown what he is capable of. He has the talent and has a great range of shots. Dube is a big guy, very powerful and can take on the spinners. That is his role and he has come out and played two crucial innings for us.

Ibrahim Zadran: We were quite short. We had a good start but not very good after that. Sometimes we play well in the powerplay, sometimes in the middle and sometimes at the death. We need to build the momentum throughout and not repeat mistakes to have a good T20 World Cup. (On Gulbadin Naib) He's the most senior guy, we trust him and when he played a few shots in the powerplay, we wanted him to take that momentum throughout the innings.

Shivam Dube: The skipper is really happy with my performance, he told me well played. (On Jaiswal) We 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. There wasn't any target in mind, but we should have finished the game earlier. There are many things that I have worked on, apart from skill it is about how mentally you prepare for the T20 game. How to handle pressure, and deciding which bowlers to take on. It isn't important to hit every ball. I have been working on my bowling as well, happy that it worked out in the first game but not as much today. But that is how T20 cricket is.

Highest targets successfully chased vs Afghanistan in T20Is
176 SL Sharjah 2022
173 Ind Indore 2024 *
169 Ire Belfast 2022
163 HK Abu Dhabi 2015

Worst ER for Afghanistan spinners in a T20I
13.85 vs Ind Indore 2024 (97 runs/7 overs) *
10.21 vs Ind Gros Islet 2010 (80/7.5)
10.18 vs Ire Abu Dhabi 2013 (112/11)
9.71 vs Ind Abu Dhabi 2021 (68/7)

India record in home T20I series since June 2019
Played 15
Won 13 *
Drawn 2
Lost 0

22:01 Local Time, 16:31 GMT, 22:01 IST: So India seal the game with overs to go. Despite losing skipper Rohit Sharma for a duck, the hosts never broke a sweat in this chase. Kohli played overly aggressive, playing a few proper slogs as he scored a brisk 29 before falling to Naveen-ul-Haq. Jaiswal on the other end though stayed busy throughout his innings, always looking for the aggressive option. He attacked Mujeeb and Noor Ahmad, getting to a 27-ball fifty. At the other end was the spin basher Shivam Dube who took down an experienced campaigner like Nabi for three consecutive sixes, and then there was no turning back. Another impressive knock from the southpaw, as he notched up a 22-ball fifty and stayed till the end to help his team cross the line. Karim Janat came on and stalled the end by picking two in his first over, but the result was never in doubt. India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, stay around for the presentations.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shivam Dube, leg byes, 1 run, a leg bye to win it!! Full and sliding onto the pads, deflects behind square and the Indians will cross over. An easy win and they claim the series as well.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Shivam Dube, no run, yorker length delivery again, stabbed towards mid-off. Dube starts off on the run but then retracts back

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Rinku Singh, 1 run, low full toss, slammed to the left of mid-on for a single. Over to Dube to get the winning runs!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Rinku Singh, no run, in the blockhole from Farooqi, dug out towards extra cover

Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, 1 run, hits the hard length on middle. Rinku tries a pull heave but off the splice and goes tamely towards long-on

Karim Janat to Shivam Dube, 1 run, yorker length, stabbed out towards long-on

Karim Janat to Shivam Dube, no run, pace off and angling across outside off, goes under Shivam Dube's big bat swing

Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, 1 run, good length on middle and leg, pulled towards deep backward square leg

Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, no run, in the blockhole on off stump. Blocked out

One hit away now...

Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, FOUR, on a length on off stump, slightly skiddy. Slammed to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary