3 players who shined and 2 who faltered for India in the second T20I versus Afghanistan, including Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
3 Players who shined and 2 who faltered for India in the second T20I versus Afghanistan
In the second T20I in Indore, Team India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets on Sunday, January 14. With the victory, they established a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The present rubber is India’s final T20I before the 2024 T20 World Cup. But they are still a long way from determining their first-choice team for the ICC tournament.
Performances in the ongoing series will heavily influence the selectors’ selections. On that point, here are three players who excelled. And two who bombed for Team India in the second Twenty20 International against Afghanistan.
3 players who starred
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal:- Yashasvi Jaiswal returned from a groin strain that had kept him out of the opening T20I and made an immediate impact.
He thrashed the Afghan bowlers in all parts of the Holkar Stadium, effectively securing his position in the team.
Jaiswal was harsh on both pace and spin as he and Virat Kohli made the most of the powerplay.
The southpaw sliced the off-side field with ease and cleared the boundary at will. Refusing to allow Afghanistan into the game.
Jaiswal went on his merry way in the middle overs, scoring a magnificent half-century. By the time he was fired, the outcome was predetermined.
2. Axar Patel:- Axar Patel, who took two wickets in Mohali, went one step further in Indore, bowling an even more frugal stint.
He gave only 17 runs in four overs at the Holkar Stadium and took two wickets. Axar’s first wicket was a brilliant away-turner that beat Ibrahim Zadran’s bat and hit his stumps.
After keeping things tight, the left-arm spinner ended his stint with the crucial wicket of the threatening Gulbadin Naib.
Axar appears to have rediscovered his bowling mojo. which is a huge boost for India as they prepare for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
3. Shivam Dube:- Shivam Dube has been the Men in Blue’s primary man in both of their previous matchups.
He produced another outstanding all-round performance in the second T20I, propelling India to a series victory.
Dube sent out a superb slower ball to castle Azmatullah Omarzai. While the 19th over he bowled was extremely costly, he should never have been given the job in the first place.
Dube was his destructive self with the bat, smashing five fours and four sixes, including three in a row off Nabi, on his way to a magnificent half-century.
For the second game in a row, he witnessed the chase-off and was present when the winning runs were scored.
2 Who flopped
1. Rohit Sharma:- Rohit Sharma had a two-ball duck in the first T20I, and things got worse in the second match.
The Indian captain, who was run out by Shubman Gill in the last game, had only himself to blame this time.
For whatever reason, Rohit opted to whack the first ball he saw across the line. Fazalhaq Farooqi slammed the ball onto a nice length, and the opener, who had set up to play a pull, attempted the shot despite not having the necessary length.
The bails were tossed, and Rohit walked back disappointed. He has very little time to establish his value to the T20I side.
2. Jitesh Sharma:-Sharma made an adventurous cameo in the previous game, but he struggled in the second T20I due to a lack of time.
Jitesh had no need to try a lofted stroke from the second ball he faced, as India was well in control of the match.
However, the keeper-batter was pressed for pace and dropped a straightforward catch at mid-off, resulting in a dismal expulsion.
Jitesh also lost a catch off Washington Sundar’s bowling in the first innings, and he did not have a particularly good night.