India vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I highlights: Shivam Dube shines on Rohit Sharma's return as hosts take 1-0 lead in Mohali

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: India is known as a warm country, with good reason, but today is a good reminder for people that there are large parts of the countries that cover themselves up in layers and switch on heaters at this time of the year. As the teams went through the motions in Mohali we got to see the unfamiliar sight of players in full winter gear at an Indian ground. AccuWeather states that the current temperature in Mohali is about 12 degrees Celsius and it is set to be in single digits for much of the match.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: The India series was supposed to Rashid Khan's comeback. The spinner-allrounder last played a competitive game in the 2023 World Cup and had pulled out of the BBL and Afghanistan's series in the UAE to recuperate. He travelled with the team to India but just before the first match, was declared to be not yet match-fit.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya were been the pillars of the Indian T20I setup throughout last year in which the major stars sat out of the format to concentrate on ODIs and Tests. But, come the final leg of the preps for the T20 World Cup and the pair are not there in the India squad. Pandya seems to be recovering well from the ankle injury he sustained during the 2023 World Cup. There are more questions around Surya though, with latest estimates stating that he may have to miss the first few matches of the 2024 IPL as well.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: There is no Bumrah in this series but it can be assumed that he will be among the first names on the team sheet for the T20 World Cup. This means that this series could go a long way in deciding who of Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar take the drop for that tournament.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Sanju Samson has probably forced his way into this squad thanks to that extraordinary ODI century he scored against Australia. He may have staved off competition with Jitesh Sharma and could be seen with the gloves if he does play today.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: This is what Rahul Dravid had to say about India's opening combination for this series. Or rather about where Jaiswal stands in the pecking order. "As of now, we will be certainly opening with Rohit and Jaiswal. But when you have a squad, you have to have that flexibility to do whatever is required if that is in the best interest of the team and gives us the best chance to succeed. So nothing is closed. But certainly, we're really happy with what Jaiswal has done as an opener for us, and he gives us a left-right combination as well at the top," he said.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: It's somewhat hard to believe that Rohit's IPL strike rate is only 130.05 and the 2023 season, in which he finished with a strike rate of 132.80, was the first time in four years that that particular stat had gone above 130. But ODIs and T20Is are different and Rohit's big hits largely came after the third over during the World Cup. But in T20s, the powerplay lasts just six overs and after the 10th over, you are done with half of your innings. It means that as explosive as Rohit has been in ODIs, he needs to dial it up a notch if he is going to have the same effect in this year's T20 World Cup.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Zadran admitted that Afghanistan will miss Rashid dearly in this series. "Without Rashid, we will struggle as his experience is invaluable, but even in his absence, we have got quality spinners in Mujeeb, Nabi, Noor and Qais. All of them have played a lot of cricket, and we have trust in them," he said.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Rashid Khan will miss the three-match T20 series against India as he needs more time to recover from a lower-back injury that required a surgery, captain Ibrahim Zadran said on Wednesday, on the eve of the opening match. Khan has pulled out of T20 franchise leagues in Australia and South Africa since he picked up the injury in November. "He is not totally fit, but is travelling with the team... he's doing his rehab with the doctor, and we will miss him in the series," Zadran told reporters in Mohali.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Afghanistan's talisman is not available for this series. But there is Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad could get the nod as well. Afghanistan had a historic World Cup in India not too long ago and they are going to be anything but a walkover, regardless of who they miss.