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Team India started the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan with a comfortable six-wicket win. Playing in Mohali's IS Bindra Stadium, the Men in Blue won the toss and elected to field first and justified this decision with an incredible start with the new ball. Despite not picking up wickets in the powerplay, Indian bowlers kept things quiet.
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But when the Afghani openers started to increase the scoring rate, Axar Patel and Shivam Dubey stood tall to pick up three quick wickets. As Afghanistan went from 50-0 to 57-3, veteran star Mohammed Nabi came out with a blistering knock to carry the Atalan Lions out of trouble.
Batting with the likes of Azmatullah Omarzai and Najibullah Zadran, Nabi scored a quick-fire 42. But after the 39-year-old's dismissal, Afghanistan lost its way and only managed 158. Then in the second innings, India had a terrible start as captain Rohit Sharma fell prey to a blunderous run out leaving the Men in Blue 0-1 after two balls.
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But quality knocks by Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube's blistering 40-ball 60 with five fours and two sixes carried India to a comfortable six-wicket win. The Mumbai all-rounder was certainly the star performer as he put forth an all-around display with contributions in each department.
