IND vs AFG Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! THAT'S IT! Shivam Dube gets the job done for India! Naveen-ul-Haq bangs it in short, around the right shoulder of the batter, Shivam Dube stays deep in the crease and pulls it comfortably over short fine leg for a boundary. It almost went the distance but four is enough for India to win by 6 wickets and go 1-0 up in the series!

SIX! BANG! Straight as an arrow! Naveen-ul-Haq comes from around the wicket and bowls it right in the arc of the southpaw, on a length, on middle, Shivam Dube clears his front leg and lets his long levers do the rest. Swings cleanly and smokes it towards the sightscreen for a maximum. Just 4 runs needed now!

Bangs it in short, around leg, Rinku Singh gets inside the line and pulls it down to fine leg for a single.

A bit too full, outside off, Rinku Singh leans on it and drives it crisply towards extra cover where the fielder makes a half-stop but the single was always on.

FIFTY FOR SHIVAM DUBE! First with the ball and now with the bat, it has been an impressive showing from Dube! Full and sliding on the pads, Shivam Dube rolls his wrists and clips it through square leg for a single to bring up his second T20I fifty.

In the channel on off, on a length, Shivam Dube gets lured into the drive and gets beaten on the outside edge. The replays in the next over show that there was a noise and a big outside edge on it. Very strange that no one including the keeper even went up for the appeal.

Fuller this time, around off, Rinku Singh pushes it to deep cover to rotate the strike.

FOUR! Clever, very clever! Good-length delivery with an upright seam, slanting across the batter, Rinku Singh lets the ball come to him and opens the bat face to use the pace. Steers it to the left of short third man for a boundary.

Angling across the left-hander, on a good length, on off, Shivam Dube stays leg side of the ball and knocks it to the left of long off for a single.

Fuller and into the pads, Shivam Dube flicks it from the crease to deep backward square leg for another single.

A fraction fuller and on the leg stump this time, Rinku Singh nudges it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Just short of a length around off at 113.1 clicks, Shivam Dube miscues his short-arm pull towards deep mid-wicket for another single.

Short of a length and on top of off, Rinku Singh pulls it along the ground towards deep square leg for a single.

Fuller this time and into the stumps, Shivam Dube knocks it to long off for a single.

FOUR! That's picked up to perfection. Afghanistan bowlers are missing their lines and it's proving to be costly. Naveen-ul-Haq drops the length short and around middle and off, Shivam Dube stands tall and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Back-of-the-hand slower delivery, on a back of a length again, around off, Shivam Dube waits on it and works it through square leg for a single. 10 runs off the over and India now need 28 runs off the last five overs!

Angling into the left-hander, on a back of a length, on middle, Rinku Singh turns this one away to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end

WIDE! Tries to surprise the batter by a bumper but this one sails over Rinku Singh's head for a wide.

At 131.4 clicks, on a short of a length, outside off, Rinku Singh picks up the length early and pulls it off the front foot through the vacant mid-wicket region. Naveen-ul-Haq at deep mid-wicket, runs and dives to his right. He relays the throw to the fielder to his right which is a bit wayward but the second run was always on.

Takes pace off does Farooqi and bowls it on a good length, on off, Shivam Dube picks the change of pace and dabs it with an open bat face to deep point for a single to rotate the strike.

FOUR! Absolutely crunched! Width on offer by Fazalhaq Farooqi, on a length and outside off, Shivam Dube uses his long levers to good effect as he frees his arms and drills it past extra cover for a boundary.

Comes back into the attack and starts off on a hard length, on off, Shivam Dube hangs back and stabs it into the off side.

FOUR! What a way to get off the mark. Mujeeb Ur Rahman pitches this just a fraction short and drifting down the leg stump. Rinku Singh moves across the line and flicks it past the diving short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

OUT! TAKEN! Mujeeb Ur Rahman strikes on his return to the attack and Afghanistan cling on! Jitesh Sharma holes out! Drags his length back and bowls it on middle, Jitesh Sharma goes deep in his crease to muscle the pull away. He hits this one more straight than he would have liked and fails to get the elevation. Hits it flat and straight down the throat of Ibrahim Zadran at long on, who takes a few steps back and reverse cups it with ease.

Tossed up on the stumps this time, Jitesh Sharma blocks it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Tossed up fuller into the stumps, Jitesh Sharma does exceptionally well to sweep it on the full to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Missed out on that one did Jitesh. Shorter delivery spinning into the right-hander a bit, took off the deck, Jitesh Sharma swipes across and tries to pull it over square leg but doesn't connect. The ball hits his shoulders and goes back to the right of the keeper.

Dropped it short and just outside off, Shivam Dube bangs it to long off for a single.

Fine stop! Takes pace off slightly and serves it on a hard length, on off, Jitesh Sharma shapes to work it across the line but gets an inside edge that goes on the bounce behind the wicket. Rahmanullah Gurbaz reacts quickly and dives away to his left to make the stop.

Continues to hit the deck hard and bowls it outside off, Shivam Dube works it wide of cover for a single.

Fuller in length, on off, Jitesh Sharma lunges and eases it down to wide long off for a single.

Good running! Back of a length, on middle, Jitesh Sharma lets the ball come to him and places it in front of square on the leg side for two runs more.

In the air...but safe! This is bowled full by Azmatullah Omarzai, on off and middle, Jitesh Sharma swings across the line and skies it high in the air towards deep square leg. The fielders in the deep converge but the balls right in between them. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Not the best of deliveries but the effort in the deep wasn't great either! A bit too straight, back of a length, sliding on the pads, Jitesh Sharma hangs back and whips it in the air towards deep square leg. Karim Janat runs around to his right and gets himself in a bit of a tangle. He looks to flick the ball away but the ball ricochets off his body and trickles into the fence.

At pace now, fuller in length, around off, Jitesh Sharma leans into the drive and hits it along the ground to deep point to retain the strike. 12 runs off the over and India now need 57 runs off 48 balls!

A horrible misjudgement! Karim Janat has made a complete meal of it! Pitches it on a good length outside off with absolutely no pace. Jitesh Sharma with no foot movement tries to whip it over covers but gets the bottom part of the bat. The ball flies up in the air to Karim Janat who came running in from deep point but misjudged the catch completely and eventually, he just watched it fall past his right leg. Janat then scampers back to save the boundary and the batters get two runs.

FOUR! Cut away nicely. Gulbadin Naib serves this one short and with width on offer outside off. Jitesh Sharma stands at the crease and cuts it with an angled bat well in front of point for a boundary.

Oh my, Jitesh Sharma missed out on that one. Pitched fuller outside off with no pace at all. Shivam Dube tries to get under the ball and hammer it through covers but miscues it back to the bowler.

Short of a length, on leg stump line, Shivam Dube hops and tucks it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! That's asking to be hit. Gulbadin Naib starts off from over the wicket and serves a juicy low full-toss on off, Shivam Dube drives it with ease past mid off for a boundary.

FOUR! Sliced away with ease! Azmatullah Omarzai misses his mark as he bowls a juicy full toss, outside off, there to be put away, Jitesh Sharma obliges as he reaches out and opens the bat face to get it over the leaping backward point fielder for a boundary. It was shaping up to be a tidy over but the boundary off the last ball just ruins it!

Honing in at the stumps, on a length, Shivam Dube clips it neatly in front of square on the leg side to pick up a single.

At 129.8 clicks, on a hard length, on middle, a bit of extra bounce, Jitesh Sharma places this one in front of long on. He wants to return for the second but the fielder in the deep is quick to swoop in and keeps it to a single.

This is bowled on a good length, on middle, Jitesh Sharma hangs back and defends it right under his eyeline.

Fuller and around off, Shivam Dube leans on and drives it with a straight bat to long off for a single.

Back of a length, around leg, Shivam Dube tucks it off his hips towards short fine leg. A yes-no situation between the two batters for the single and in the end, they decide not to take the run.

On a good length, into middle and off, Shivam Dube nudges it to mid on and gets to the other end.

Fuller this time into the stumps, Jitesh Sharma flicks it off his front foot behind square leg for a single.

Short of a length and way outside off, Jitesh Sharma advances down the track trying to cut it over point but gets beaten.

FOUR! That's a magnificent shot. Naveen-ul-Haq serves this short and bangs it hard into the deck angling into the right-hander. Jitesh Sharma waits back and pulls it over his shoulders towards the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Fuller this time, around leg again, Shivam Dube flicks it nicely past square leg for a single.

Starts from over the wicket and hurls it just short of a length, around leg, Shivam Dube pulls it along the ground to deep square leg. Karim Janat does well to cut off the ball and keep it down to just two.

Back of a length and over the stumps, Shivam Dube pushes it down to mid on off the back foot and gets across for one.

Hard length around the top of off stump, Jitesh Sharma blocks it off the back foot towards the gully region and gets across for a quick single.

OUT! TAKEN! What a ripper of a catch from Gulbadin Naib and the bowling change has done the trick for Afghanistan. Just a fraction shorter from Azmatullah Omarzai around the off stump. Tilak Varma looks to repeat the trick from the previous over as he swivels across and looks to pull it flat over long leg. Gulbadin Naib in the deep comes a bit too ahead and seems to have lost it in the light but does brilliantly to jump back and grab it out of thin air with both hands. Naib flexes his biceps to the crowd and Varma departs after a solid start.

FOUR! Should have been stopped but Tilak Varma timed it pretty well. Short of a length and outside off, Varma presses forward before rocking back and cutting it to the left of Naveen-ul-Haq at point. Naveen doesn't make much of an effort and the ball runs away to the fence.

Banged in short and over middle and leg, hurrying onto the batter, Shivam Dube manages to pull it down to mid on for a run.

Pitches it up first up on the stumps, Tilak Varma leans ahead and flicks it away towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Naveen-ul-Haq drops the length short and misses the line. Drifts around the leg stump line. Shivam Dube rocks back and pulls it comfortably from the crease to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Short of a length, angling into the left-hander. Tilak Varma walks down the pitch and cuts it square on the off side for a single.

Bangs in short and into the body, Shivam Dube stands tall and pulls it along the ground towards mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller this time around middle and off, Tilak Varma advances down the track and firms it to mid off for a risky single. Ibrahim Zadran with a clean pick-up and throw at the bowler's end but he missed and anyway, Varma seemed to be home.

SIX! What a shot that from Tilak Varma. Naveen-ul-Haq drops the length a touch short into the bodyline. Tilak Varma swivels across and short-arm pulls it over long leg for a biggie.

Comes from around the wicket and pitches short of a length, around off, Shivam Dube rocks back and taps it to mid on for a single.

FOUR! The extra delivery has cost Mohammad Nabi and Afghanistan dearly. Nabi floats this one up around the off stump, Tilak Varma dances down the track and goes into-out lofting it over extra cover for a lovely boundary. 16 off that over, an expensive one from Nabi.

Fuller one around off, driven down to long off for an easy single.

On the stumps, flicked away through mid-wicket for a single and there's a fumble in the deep but they decide against the second run.

WIDE! Seemed a little harsh given the bowler's reaction. Tilak Varma moves around in the crease and goes past the leg stump. Mohammad Nabi cleverly fires it in just around the tramline outside off and Varma cannot reach it.

Full and outside off, Shivam Dube reaches out and hits it really hard to the left of deep point for a single.

WIDE! Quicker one, fired in down the leg side. Dube misses the flick and a wide is called.

SIX! Wow, that is massive! Mohammad Nabi tosses this one up right in the slot and angling into the hitting arc as well. Shivam Dube sits down and clears the front leg before flexing those muscles and smoking it well over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Floated up on a length around off and sliding on nicely, Tilak Varma hangs back and pats it away to deep cover-point for a single.

Top stuff! A maiden from Mujeeb Ur Rahman! Drops the length short and wider of off, Shivam Dube stands at the crease and extends the bat, knocking it to point.

Short and around off, Shivam Dube gets on top of the bounce and punches it to cover-point.

Quicker and into middle and off, Shivam Dube knocks it to cover.

Tossed up outside off, Shivam Dube drives it straight to cover.

Oh, great delivery! Pitched fuller and just away from the off stump, flicking it from the back of the hand, Shivam Dube prods to play straight but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Fuller and into the stumps, Shivam Dube nudges it to mid-wicket for no runs.

Ouch, an unnecessary overthrow from Fazalhaq Farooqi and India get five runs instead of just a single. This is floated up full on the pads, Shivam Dube flicks it to short fine leg and sets off for the single. Farooqi charges in and from close range fires in a rocket throw that goes past the keeper and through the infield on the other side for a boundary as well.

Fires this one in at 93.9 clicks and on the pads, Tilak Varma works it away 'round the corner and picks up a single.

Slightly shorter and around off, cut away off the back foot but straight to point.

Flights this one up and much slower through the air around off, Shivam Dube leans on nicely and strokes it down to long off for a single.

Pushed through quicker now and around off, Tilak Varma pushes it out on the off side for a quick run.

Starts from around the stumps and bowls it really slow at 80.6 clicks. This is very round arm and is sliding into the stumps. Tilak Varma makes room and cuts it to cover-point.

Dropped short and over the stumps, Shivam Dube goes back in the crease and nudges it to mid-wicket.

OUT! STUMPED! Mujeeb Ur Rahman has the last laugh here and picks up a huge wicket for his side. A clever piece of bowling as Mujeeb just holds this one back a touch and slides it in past the leg stump. Shubman Gill charges down the track but is beaten in the flight completely and ends up running past the ball. Rahmanullah Gurbaz does well to collect the ball sharply to his left and whips off the bails before Gill can even turn back.

FOUR! Down the track and into the fence! Tossed up around off stump, Shubman Gill dances down the track and lofts it right back over the bowler's head for a crunching boundary.

Quicker one, on a length and sliding back into the stumps, Shubman Gill plays it to mid off.

FOUR! Beautiful timing yet again and Shubman Gill is on a rampage here. Bowls it really full and around off, Gill leans on and just opens the bat face a touch before creaming it away past the diving extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Another quick single as Tilak Varma pushes this one away in front of mid-wicket.

The throw goes off Gill's bat and he decides to take the extra run. Back of a length and around off, Shubman Gill comes forward and pushes it down to covers for a quick single. Gulbadin Naib dives in and under-arms the throw towards the bowler's end and the ball ricochets off the bat and rolls away for one more.

FOUR! Another brilliant piece of timing and Shubman Gill is on a roll on his home ground. Just a fraction shorter and around off, Gill walks down the pitch and makes a bit of room before slapping it away in front of cover-point for a boundary.

Switches back to over the wicket and bowls it full around off, angling it away, Shubman Gill looks to drive on the up but gets it off the inner half of the willow and the ball goes nowhere.

FOUR! Pulled away with disdain! Comes from around the stumps and digs it in a bit short over the stumps. Shubman Gill picks the length early and short-arm jabs it through square leg for a boundary.

Hard length around the top of off stump, Tilak Varma hangs back and cuts it away late wide of third man for a single.

Just drifting down leg! Steams in from over the wicket and hurls it on a fuller length at 140.3 clicks and on middle and leg. The ball slides back in quickly and Tilak Varma gets rapped on the pads as the ball rolls to the off side.

Floated up a bit and drifting into middle and leg, Tilak Varma leans on and flicks it away well in front of mid-wicket for a single.

Holds it back a touch and bowls it on the stumps, Tilak Varma blocks it out on the off side.

Flatter one on middle and off, sliding on, Tilak Varma stays leg side of the ball but fails to pierce the gap at covers.

Switches to over the wicket for the right-hander and bowls it on a length slanting it back into the stumps. Shubman Gill tucks it away through mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Quicker and flatter outside the line of off stump, Tilak Varma stays back and pats it away towards cover for a single.

Starts from around the stumps and bowls it full outside off, Tilak Varma pushes it out on the off side.

FOUR! Wow, what a shot and that marks the end of a dramatic first over, five runs and a wicket off it. Good length over middle, Shubman Gill walks forward and just strokes it on the up right back past the bowler for a lovely boundary.

Hard length around the top of off stump and this one doesn't swing back in. Shubman Gill is caught on the crease and gets an inside edge back onto the pads.

On a good length, shaping back in from middle and leg, Shubman Gill nudges it to the leg side.

Bowled on a good length and in the channel swinging away a bit, Tilak Varma hangs back and just nudges it past short third man for a single.

OUT! RUN OUT! Oh, dear! Chaos in the middle and the skipper Rohit Sharma is devastated with that. Fazalhaq Farooqi serves it nice and full on the stumps, Sharma charges down the track and firms it to the right of mid off where Ibrahim Zadran makes an excellent diving stop. Sharma sets off for the single which seemed to be on but his partner Shubman Gill was ball watching. Rohit is at the other end but Gill is at the same end as well. Zadran picks up the ball and throws it back to the keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz who whips off the bails and it is a frustrating start for India. Sharma gives a piece of his mind to Gill while walking back as well.

Lovely delivery to begin with! Starts from over the wicket and serves it very full on middle, getting it to tail back in a bit and late too. Rohit Sharma stays watchful and keeps the front leg out of the way before blocking it away.