India vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 World Cup 2021: IND thrash AFG by 66 runs to bag first win of the tournament

IND vs AFG Highlights, T20 World Cup 2021 Updates: India beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in their Super 12 match in Abu Dhabi to bag their first win of the tournament. Rohit Sharma (74) was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’. Follow India vs Afghanistan highlights and updates on the live blog.

IND vs AFG Highlights, T20 World Cup Match Today (REUTERS)

India vs Afghanistan Highlights: At last, after 10 days and 2 matches, the Indian team finally managed to secure their first victory of the showpiece event. They beat Afghanistan by 66 runs. In chase of 211, AFG lost two early wickets at the start of their chase as Jasprit Bumrah removed Zazai (13) and Mohammed Shami got the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad (0). However, Gurbaz and Gulbadin took the attack to the Indian bowlers to take the total to 47/2 after the powerplay. Soon after, Gurbaz was sent packing on 19 by Ravindra Jadeja. Just as Gulbadin Naib threatened to take off, he was trapped LBW plumb in front by R Ashwin. Afghanistan reached 61-4 after 10 overs. R Ashwin, before finishing his spell with figures of 2/14 in 4 overs, cleaned up Najib as Afghanistan reached 98/5 after 16 overs. Eventually, Mohammed Shami bagged two more, en route to three wicket-haul as India restricted Afghanistan to 144/7 in 20 overs. Earlier in the first innings, India posted 210/2 in 20 overs after being asked to bat by Afghanistan. Courtesy of a flurry of boundaries unleashed by openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, India posted 53/0 by the end of the first innings Powerplay. Afghanistan bowlers pulled things back for three overs before a few timely boundaries from KL Rahul helped India post 85/0 at the halfway stage. Soon after, the duo brought up their 4th T20I century stand and Rahul also brought up another half-century. The Indian openers then went on to add 140 runs for the first wicket, a new record for India in T20Is, before Karim Janat dismissed Sharma on 74. Rahul was dismissed on 69 soon after by Gulbadin Naib but that did not deter Hardik Pandya (35*) and Rishabh Pant (27*) to put on a show. The two put on 63 runs off 21 balls to take India to the massive total.

Follow all the updates here:

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:33:49 PM IST

  That's all, thank you!

  That's all the action we have for you today. Thank you so much for joining us. We will be back with live action tomorrow, so make sure to join us. Until then. it's goodnight and wish you all a very happy Diwali.

  This is Shivansh Gupta signing off. CIAO!

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:25:07 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Nabi, the losing captain, speaks

  “We usually bat first, we tried to chase due to the dew. Also the wicket looked really good. Yeah, there wasn't much dew, but the wicket played really good. India batted really well, and put us under pressure. Not always, we try to rotate strike a bit too. Today we didn't do well enough but we lost early wickets and that put us under pressure. Hopefully, we can win our last game.”

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:19:15 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup: A big positive for India

  With this win, India's net run-rate has climbed into the positives (+0.073)

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:18:38 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma is the player of the match

  “The idea was to go after it, and get off to a good start, which didn't happen in the first two games and lay the platform for the others. Exceptional batting from Rahul, and that partnership was vital. We were prepared to field first, and it was a good pitch to bat on. Getting to a respectable total was important, and the NRR could come into play so we had to win by a good margin, so glad we got that. Today it was necessary to get off to a good start, and that's not my natural game - I usually like to get in. So I made an effort to settle in, play cricketing shots, and put up a big total,” said Rohit in the post-match ceremony

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:15:54 PM IST

  IND vs AFG: MATCH SUMMARY

  India (IND 210/2: Rohit 74, Janat 1/7) beat Afghanistan (AFG 144/7: Janat 36*, Ashwin 2/14) by 66 runs

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:11:58 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Score: IND beat AFG by 66 runs

  The ‘Men in Blue' are finally off the mark in the tournament as they beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in Abu Dhabi

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:09:17 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: 20th over

  Hardik Pandya to bowl the final over. 81 runs needed from 6 ball

  19.1- FOUR! Cut away by Janat for 4. 

  19.2 — Single

  19.3 — 1 RUN

  19.4 — 1 run

  19.5 — 1 run

  19.6 — Short and cut away over third man for six by Janat. India seal first win of the showpiece event.

• 3 Nov 2021, 11:05:14 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 Live Score: Wicket, wicket

  OUT! Mohammed Shami ends Nabi's cameo on 35

  Rashid Khan is the new man in

  OUT! He had to go for every ball. He holes to Pandya at long on for a golden duck.

  AFG are 127/7 in 18.3 overs.

  Sharafuddin Ashraf walks out next

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:59:56 PM IST

   waThe equation

  Afg need 86 runs from 12 balls. But India know their target is to make sure they concede no more than 24 runs

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:59:13 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 Live Score: SHARDUL'S OVER = ENTERTAINMENT

  JUST  SHORT! Janat looks to clear the long-off boundary but doesn't time it. Ishan Kishan puts in a desperate dive forward but the ball died on him very rapidly. His effort is applauded by his MI captain Rohit Sharma with a big smile.

  SIX! THIS TIME, KISHAN CAN ONLY WATCH IT SAIL OVER THE FENCE as Nabi connects one and clears the long off boundary with ease.

  FOUR! 50-run stand is up between them. Oh, dear. This will hurt India. In order to make sure their Net run-rate enters into positives, they must win by a margin of at least 63 runs. and Nabi is looking to spoil that party. Short from Shardul and he clubs it through deep mid-wicket for 5. 

  AFG are 109/5 after 18 overs | Nabi (35*), Janat (26*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:50:40 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan: COMICAL BOUNDARY

  FOUR! Short ball from Bumrah. Janat pulls the balls towards cow corner. Kohli and Jadeja both chase the ball. Kohli gives up the chase thinking Jadeja will field it. By the time Jadeja realised it's his ball to take, he had already over run. Smiles all over.

  FOUR! A wide full-toss from Bumrah and it is duly put away by Nabi. All he had to was open the face of the bat as the ball had enough pace on it

  AFG are 109/5 after 17 overs | Nabi (22*), Janat (23*)

  Bumrah finishes with figures of 1-25 in 4 overs

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:46:07 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live Score: WHAT A SHOT

  SIX! THAT'S A SUPERB PICK-UP SHOT! Leg-stump half-volley from Shardul Thakur and Janat helps the ball on its way and onto the grass banks over long leg.

  10 OFF THE OVER

  AFG are 98/5 after 16 overs | Nabi (18*), Janat (23*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:41:07 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: Bumrah brought back on

  Jasprit Bumrah brought back into the attack

  AFG are 88/5 after 15 overs | Nabi (17*), Janat (10*)

  They need 123 from 30 balls

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:38:58 PM IST

  A great night for Ashwin

  2/14 in 4 overs. What a stellar comeback to T20Is for Ashwin

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:35:58 PM IST

  IND vs AFG: 131 needed off 42

  10 off Jadeja's 3rd over

  AFG are 80/5 after 13 overs | Nabi (11*), Janat (7*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:29:29 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: ASHWIN PICKS UP ANOTHER

  IS THAT A CATCH? No but that would have been a spectacular catch from Rohit had that carried to him at cover. Oh, hang on! The umpires are getting it checked. The soft-signal is not out. Nabi made room and looked to go inside out. He absolutely creamed the ball and Rohit got down on time. He wasn't confident at first. After seeing the slow-mo replay for a number of times, the third umpire gives it not-out. THAT WAS CLOSE!

  OUT! THIS IS OUT AND THERE ARE NO DOUBTS ABOUT IT. Najib's reverse sweep costs him his wicket as Ashwin disturbs his timber.

  Karim Janat is the new man in. 

  AFG are 70/5 after 12 overs | Nabi (7*), Janat (1*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:25:54 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan: A neat beginning from Shardul Thakur

  5 off Sharduk Thakur's first over.

  AFG are 66-4 after 11 overs | Najib (11*), Nabi (4*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:22:11 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Score: THE EQUATION

  150 runs from 60 balls

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:18:33 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live: Ashwin gets Gulbadin

  OUT! As plumb as they get. R Ashwin joins the party, dismissed Gulbadin Naib. Misses the sweep and he doesn't even review it as given out LBW

  AFG are 59/4 after 9.3 overs

  Mohammad Nabi is the new batter in.

  AFG are 61-4 after 10 overs | Najib (9*), Nabi (1*)

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:15:39 PM IST

  A decent over from Jadeja

  7 off Jadeja's second over.

  AFG are 58-3 after 9 overs | Gulbadin (18*), Najib (8*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:10:32 PM IST

  T20 World Cup 2021 India vs Afghanistan Live: Welcome back, R Ashwin

  After 4 years, R Ashwin is bowling in a T20I.

  AFG are 51-3 after 8 overs | Gulbadin (18*), Najib (1*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:08:33 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live: Jadeja removes the dangerman

  OUT! Ravindra Jadeja gets Gurbaz on 19 as India break the dangerous partnership. Floated delivery from Jadeja, Gurbaz charges down the tracks and hits his high in the air. Hardik Pandya runs to his right from long-on and takes a brilliant catch near the boundary line. The ball was in the air for a long time.

  AFG are 48/3 after 7 overs 

  Najibullah Zadran walks in to bat next

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 10:02:16 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live: Hardik Pandya is introduced

  FOUR! A loosener first up from Hardik. Strays down leg and Gulbadin clips it away for 4 behind square.

  FOUR! Another half-volley on the pads from Pandya and Gulbadin Naib once again, whips it behind square for 4.

  AFG are 47/2 after 6 overs | Gurbaz (19*), Gulbadin (15*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:56:09 PM IST

  T20 World Cup 2021 India vs Afghanistan Live: Shami back for his 3rd

  FOUR! Thich outside edge and raced past a diving Bumrah at short third-man for 4. Gulbadin scores his first boundary.

  SIX! That's a classy shot from Gurbaz. Rank half-volley from Shami. Gurbaz takes one step to his right, clears the front leg and tonks the ball over long-on for 6.

  SIX! This time, he swivel pulls the ball over deep mid-wicket for 6. This is fabulous batting. 

  FOUR! 21 off the over. Short and wide from Shami, he overcompensates for it. Gurbaz, ever so gracefully, slashes the ball through cover-point for 4. 

  AFG are 38/2 after 5 overs | Gurbaz (19*), Gulbadin (6*)

   

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:50:03 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan: Bumrah strikes

  OUT! A slower ball from Bumrah, very-well disguised, Zazai is outfoxed and he ends up chipping it in the air. Shardul Thakur at mid-on pouches the ball easily.

  A surprise here; Gulbadin Naib walks in next

  OUCH! A 140 kph bouncer from Bumrah, Gurbaz ducks and is struck on the helmet. He is all smiles but the concussion test will be carried out.

  And Gurbaz clears the test

  AFG are 17/2 after 4 overs | Gurbaz (3*), Gulbadin (1*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:46:03 PM IST

  OUT! SHAMI STRIKES

  A good over from Shami as Zazai fails to get bat on ball before snatching a single

  OUT! Mohammad Shahzad looks to flick the ball through on side but to-edges it to Ashwin at mid-off

  AFG are 13/1 after 3 overs | Zazai (13*)

  Rahmanullah Gurbaz is in at no.3

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:38:18 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live Score T20 World Cup 2021: What a shot

  SIX! LEG-STUMP HALF-VOLLEY AND THAT'S A SHORT-ARM JAB OVER COW CORNER FOR 6. What an astonishing shot. Zazai was cramped for room but he still manages to middle the ball and hit it for a flat six. That was so Chris Gayle-like.

  AFG are 12/0 after 2 overs | Zazai (12*), Shahzad (0*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:37:05 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live: Bumrah sharing the new ball

  For Afghanistan, we had spin from both ends first up. India, on the other hand, are beginning with pacers

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:36:18 PM IST

  Hardik Pandya receiving treatment

  Hardik Pandya, who took a painful blow on the elbow, is receiving some treatment and hasn't taken the field yet. Substitute Ishan Kishan is on the field.

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:35:58 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live Score: A tidy first 

  FOUR! Marginally short but wide from Shami. Southpaw Zazai creams the ball through point for 4. That sounded so good.

  Shami, who was going around the wicket, is now bowling over the wicket

  BEATEN! AND ONCE MORE! The angle is doing him a world of good already. Bowling a hard length, angling the ball away from Zazai, and beating the outside edge on consecutive deliveries.

  AFG are 5/0 after 1 over.

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:30:37 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Cricket Score: LET THE BATTLE RESUME

  Afghanistan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad have walked out to open.

  Mohammed Shami to open India's attack.

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:29:04 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup Live Score: Time for the chase to begin

  Right, time for the bowlers of India to come and deliver their half of the deal. The batters, all 4 of them, have done their job. Now, over to to the bowlers

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:23:43 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup: Top performers

  IND- Rohit (74*), Rahul (69), Pandya (35*) and Pant (27*)

  AFG- Janat: 1/7 (1 over), Gulbadin 1/39 (4)

  
  

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:20:16 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Cricket Score: India post 210/2

  210/2 is what India have scored. Highest total so far in this tournament.

  Pant, Pandya stitched a 63-run stand in just 21 balls. A SR of 300

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:17:14 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Score: 20th over

  FOUR! 50-run stand! A full-toss from Hassan Hamid and Pant shuffles past the off-stump and ramps the over fine leg for 4

  SIX! This time, Pant tonks the ball over long-off for a huge six.

  FOUR! A leg-stump yorker, inside edge and Pandya gets 4. The ball races to the fine leg fence

  INDIA FINISH ON 210/2 AFTER 20 OVERS

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:15:00 PM IST

  20th over up next

  This is now the highest total in the tournament so far and we still have an over to go

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:09:35 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup: DROP CATCH, COLLISION, SIX

  IN THE AIR...INTO THE HANDS AND IT POPS OUT! And there is a collision. it's all happening. Okay, so here's what happened! Hardik looked to clear the inner circle through cover but end up chipping it into the night sky. Najib runs in form long-off but he drops is. That allows Hardik to go back for the 2nd and at his end, he collides with an incoming Shahzad. After a small pause, we resume play

  SIX! A slower bouncer from Naveen. Hardik waited and waited. Camped on the backfoot and he swats it over extra-cover for 6.

  SIX! NO PARTY WITHOUT HARDIK PANDYA! Into the slot and Hardik, from deep inside the crease, smashes the ball over the bowler's head for 6.

  IND 194/2 after 19 overs | Pant (17*), Pandya (31*)

   

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:08:18 PM IST

  12 balls and 25 runs.

  Can Pant, Pandya take India to 200?

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:07:11 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Cricket Score: Pandya joins the party

  FOUR! A yorker on leg stump and Pandya gets his bat on time and still manages to time it well enough for 4 behind square

  FOUR! SWWWAATTTEEDD! A rank half-tracker from Hassan and he Pandya flat-bats it through deep mid-wicket for 4

  FOUR! A leg-stump half-volley and Pandya flicks the ball through cow corner for 4

  IND 175/2 after 18 overs | Pant (16*), Pandya (14*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 09:03:08 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan: BOWLED HIM, RAHUL PERISHES

  OUT! CLEANED UP! Rahul looks to go for a ramp over fine leg but Gulbadin bowls it full and straight. He ends up losing his stumps.

  IND 147/2 after 16.3 overs. Hardik Pandya is the new man in. Still no Virat Kohli

  SIX! Another one-handed six over the bowler's head from Pant and he finds six more

  SIX! BANG! ONE MORE! Outside off and Pant, on one knee, frees his arms and goes over long off for another one-handed six. I am convinced now. There is pure skill now. No flukes, nothing.

  IND ARE 160/2 AFTER 17 OVERS | Pant (15*), Pandya (1*)

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:53:04 PM IST

  IND vs AFG: 5 overs to go

  How many more can India score in the next 30 balls.

  HOW'S THAT? OUT! INDIA REVIEW! Pant goes for a reverse sweep and the ball strikes the pads. Umpire gives it out. Pant reviews and the replay shows the ball had come off the inside edge. PANT SURVIVES AND INDIA RETAIN REVIEW

  IND ARE 145/1 after 16 overs | Rahul (68*), Pant (2*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:49:57 PM IST

  T20 World Cup Live: Rohit Sharma falls

  OUT! Gone. Janat strikes in his first over as Rohit, while trying to play a big shit, is caught at cover.

  IND are 140/1 after 14.4 overs. Rishabh Pant, not Virat Kohli, walks in next

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:45:53 PM IST

  T20 World Cup Live Score: Rohit Sharma's fury road

  Rashid Khan is back for his 3rd over.

  SIX! Floated up. Rohit Sharma charged down the track and he was beaten in flight but he still managed to reach the ball and time it well enough over cow corner for an 80m six.

  SIX! GOING...GOING...GONE! Rohit Sharma is putting on an exhibition here. He sweeps the ball for a six over deep square-leg.

  IND are 135/0 after 14 overs | Rohit (74*), Rahul (60*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:38:04 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live Score: 50 for KL Rahul

  FOUR! FIFTY. Gulbadin Naib goes full in the slot just outside off and Rahul goes inside out over extra cover for 4.

  FOUR! Began the over with a four and ends with another. Strays down the leg, does Gulbadin and Rahul flicks the ball past short fine leg.

  IND are 119/0 after 13 overs | Rohit (60*), Rahul (58*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:32:03 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan: ROHIT SHARMA HITS 50

  Naveen-ul-Haq is reintroduced

  FOUR! FIFTY! HE GETS TO 50 IN 37 BALLS WITH A SQUARE CUT FOR 4. 

  This is his 23rd T20I fifty. What a stellar white-ball career he has had

  SIX! Slower ball, short and whipped away for 6. A rank half-tracker from Naveen and Rahul swivels and guides the ball behind square for 6

  100 UP FOR INDIA AND 100-RUN STAND! Their 4th in T20Is

  FOUR! That was a disastrous slower bouncer and Rohit tonks the ball over third man for 4.

  IND are 107/0 after 12 overs | Rohit (58*) and Rahul (48*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:28:11 PM IST

   Gulbadin Naib is back into the attack

  FOUR! DEFT AND CLEVER! He is two runs away from his 50 now.

  Short and wide from Gulbadin. Rohit waits for the ball to come onto him and he opens the face of the bat to guide the ball past short third man for 4.

  IND 91/0 after 11 overs | Rohit (44*) and Rahul (41*)

   

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:21:42 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live: HALFWAY STAGE

  FOUR! Right, Rahul has said enough is enough! He hits Rashid for a four on the first ball of the over by sweeping the ball past the short fine leg fielder for 4. It was darted into the stumps but Rahul shows quick hands to get it away.

  IND have reached 85/0 after 10 overs | Rohit (44*) and Rahul (40*)

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:17:08 PM IST

  IND vs AFG Live Score: A release shot from Rahul and he finds 4

  FOUR! NICELY DONE and that's an impressive release shot. Sharafuddin Ashraf, who has been brought back on, goes flat and around leg stump. Rahul goes down on one knee and lofts the ball behind square for 4.

  IND are 74/0 after 9 overs.

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:12:22 PM IST

  Afghanistan slowly putting on the breaks

  1-5: 52/0

  6-8: 13/0

• 3 Nov 2021, 08:10:35 PM IST

  India vs Afghanistan Live: Rashid Khan introduced

  Rashid Khan, who has bagged the most number of wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium across T20s (30), is introduced into the attack.

  Just 6 off the over.

  IND are 65/0 after 8 overs.