IND v AFG, 2nd T20I: Yashasvi, Shivam Dube and Virat Kohli explode as India steamroll Afghanistan for 2-0 lead

India flaunted their batting firepower on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore as Yashavi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube’s blistering fifties helped them chase down 173 in just 15.4 overs.

And seal an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series against Afghanistan. It was a power-hitting show from the two left-handers and a certain Virat Kohli, who returned to the T20I side for the first time in 14 months. Kohli did not convert his start into a big knock but he made sure he proved naysayers wrong with a refreshingly aggressive approach at No.3.

Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 63 after Yashasvi Jaiswal exited for 68 as India got the chase done without breaking a sweat.

Axar Patel (2 for 17) and Arshdeep Singh (3/32) stood out with the ball after captain Rohit Sharma, featuring in a record-setting 150th international in T20Is, won the toss and opted to field. India restricted Afghanistan to a par total despite a quickfire fifty from Gulbadin Naib. However, the explosive batting show overshadowed the bowlers’ hard work 10 sixes and 15 boundaries flew off the blades of the Indian batters, leaving the Indore crowd thrilled.

Rohit Sharma got out for a duck for the second successive time in the series, but the comeback man has tasted series victory on his return to the shortest format of the game. Both Kohli and Rohit returned to T20Is for the first time since November 2022 as they were brought back to the side with 5 months to go for the T20 World Cup.

However, Yashasvi Jaiswal did not hold back as he reminded the selectors of his worth at the top of the order as the race for the T20 World Cup spots, especially in the top-order, heats up. Yashavi brought up his 5th T20I fifty in just 27 balls as he tore into the Afghanistan new ball bowlers. With a century and 5 fifties, Yashasvi is surely ahead of the competition in terms of being Rohit Sharma’s opening partner. Notably, Yashasvi missed the first T20I due to a groin strain and Shubman Gill took his place, but the Gujarat Titans captain was not able to convert his start into a big knock in the first T20I in Mohali.

VIRAT PROVES NAYSAYERS WRONG

Yashasvi Jaiswal was joined by his senior teammate Virat Kohli, who came up with an uncharacteristically aggressive knock after walking into bat at No. 3. There was speculation that Virat Kohli would be asked to open on his return to the T20I side due to his recent struggles outside the powerplay, but Kohli proved all his naysayers wrong, hitting 5 boundaries for his 16-ball 29.

YASHASVI AND DUBE ON FIRE
Yashavi went after both spin and pace as he hit some towering sixes into the stands. He hit 6 sixes and 5 boundaries for his 34-ball 68. India added 57 runs in just 28 balls for the 2nd wicket as young Yashasvi and experienced Kohli made sure India had a good powerplay after Rohit Sharma’s early exit.

Virat Kohli did not hold back even when facing Naveen-ul-Haq as the star batter launched him for a six before getting out in the very next delivery in the 6th over.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube then took over and demolished the Afghanistan bowling unit with their incredible hitting. Shivam Dube hit his second successive fifty of the series as he put his hand up and told the world he is ready to be more than just a backup for Hardik Pandya in terms of the fast-bowling all-rounder’s spot.

Shivam Dube hit Mohammad Nabi into the orbit for three times in a row in the 10th over as India raced to 116 for 2 at the halfway mark. It was a mere formality from there on as Dube and Yashasvi added 94 runs for the 3rd wicket.

Yashasvi got out in the 13th over after which Jitesh Sharma failed to trouble the scorers. However, with Shivam Dube hitting them cleanly, India’s victory was never in doubt.

Shivam Dube remained unbeaten for the 2nd successive time in the series as he took his tally in the series to 123 runs in 2 matches.

India will look to complete a clean sweep when they take on Afghanistan in the final T20I in Bengaluru on Wednesday, January 17.