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

HT's coverage of the 1st T20I between India and Afghanistan has come to an end. All-rounder Shivam Dube's 60 off 40 balls guided India to a comfortable six-wicket win. Dube was also named the Player of the Match. Virat Kohli will return for India's 2nd T20I clash with the visitors on Sunday in Indore.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Playing the role of a finisher in the series opener, Rinku Singh gave MS Dhoni a special mention after India eased past the visitors at Mohali. Rinku recalled his interaction with CSK legend Dhoni following India’s win over Afghanistan. Rinku remained unbeaten on 16 off 9 balls.

"I have got a habit of batting at 6 and finishing games, I'm feeling very happy with this job. Enjoyed the cold conditions, it was tough while fielding though. I just try to talk to myself, batting at 6, I don't have the chance to face too many balls or score too many runs, that's the thing I keep telling myself. I've spoken with Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), he just told me to react according to the ball, keep your calm and I just do the same thing. I don't think a lot while batting, just react to the ball," Rinku said after the match.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Shivam Dube smashed 60 off 40 balls as India registered a six-wicket win over Ibrahim Zadran and Co. in the first T20I at Mohali. With the win, Rohit Sharma's Team India has taken a 1-0 lead over Ibrahim Zadran's men.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Shivam Dube goes downtown and hammers a six off Naveen-ul-Haq. India need 4 runs in 16 balls. FOUR! Dube's unbeaten knock of 60 off 40 balls takes India to a comfortable win over the visitors.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Fifty-up goes Shivam Dube. The comeback man has slammed his second 50 of his T20I career. A knock which is set to take India across the finish line. India need 12 runs in 19 balls!

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: India need 19 runs in 24 balls. Dube is closing in on a half-century. Rinku Singh and Dube have added 24 runs off 14 balls. Four! Lovely stuff, a dink and he gets a four off that. Brilliant strokeplay by Rinku. IND 146/4 after 16.3 overs.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Rinku Singh was off the mark with a four on the first ball. Fazalhaq Farooqi, was brought back into the attack to bowl the 14th over. Dube (40) is set and the in-form batter is assisted by Rinku, who is batting on 7. India now need 29 off 31 balls. IND 131/4 in 15 overs.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Dube has played exceptionally well for India in the Mohali opener. He might be the first Indian batter to get a fifty tonight. Earlier, Shubman Gill (23) and Tilak Varma (26) failed to bank on their starts. Jitesh too into 30s with a four. OUT! Easy catch in the deep and Jitesh is out. Jitesh Sharma c Ibrahim Zadran b Mujeeb 31(20).

Shivam Dube gets into the 30s with a four. Gulbadin, who was welcomed with a four on first, leaked another one while bowling to Jitesh Sharma. Hit hard and Jitesh gets four runs! India cruising! Chance of catch? The fielder completely misjudged it. Jitesh gets a single on the final ball. He retains the strike! India need 57 runs in 48 balls.

India skipper Rohit Sharma had a forgetful outing with the bat against the visitors in Mohali. The India skipper was out for a duck. He played his first T20I for India tonight since 2022. Rohit was livid with Shubman Gill as he was run out for cheap early in the Indian chase. India need 69 runs in the final 9 overs.

Brilliant stroke play! Four off Naveen on the third ball as Jitesh gets into act quickly. Nine runs off the over. IND 83-3 after 10 overs. India now need 76 runs in 60 balls.

What a catch! That's a blinder as Tilak Varma is out for 26 off 22 balls. Azmatullah has a wicket to his name! He strikes in his first over and India lose its third wicket. IND 72/3 in 8.4 overs. India need 87 runs in 68 balls.

Naveen-ul-Haq, dispatched for a six in the 7th over. What a shot from Tilak as he takes charge after the powerplay. Naveen was brought back into the attack for the 7th over. He leaks 14 runs. India need 93 runs in 72 balls. IND 66/2 after 8 overs.

A massive six off Nabi in the 6th over and Dube has got himself into double figures. Youngsters Tilak Varma and Dube are tasked to take India across the finish line. FOUR! Tilak gets a four as he ends the over in style. IND 52-2 after 7 overs.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Well Gill goes dancing down the track next ball and perishes. He was clearly looking for a big innings here, one big shot too many. Mujeeb roars and runs around, this wicket means a lot for Afghanistan.

Gill st Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 23 (12)

IND vs AFG Live Score: India 28/2 in 4 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Mujeeb bowling his first over and he has been smashed for two fours by Gill. The fourth ball is sent back over the bowler's head, takes a few bounces before reaching the boundary.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Full ball around off from Farooqi, Gill moves to the leg side and cuts it in front of square. Second four of the over for him and they run two off the last ball of that over and Gill is on 15 off eight, Varma on four off eight.

IND vs AFG Live Score: India 19/1 in 3 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Tilal on three off six, Gill on five off four. Gill has to somehow push that run out out of his head. A quiet start for India thus far.

IND vs AFG Live Score: India 8/1 in 2 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Oh Rohit is livid at Gill and there you really can't blame him there. It was Rohit's call all the way, Gill was just ball watching and refused to run a clear single. Both batters ended up at the non-striker's end and the wicketkeeper flicks off the bails. Gill gets an earful from Rohit, he is absolutely steaming away in the cold out there.

Rohit run out (Ibrahim Zadran/Gurbaz) 0 (2)

IND vs AFG Live Score: India 0/1 in 0.2 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Big cheers everywhere as Rohit Sharma walks out to open the innings for India in a T20I for the first time since November 2022. Shubman Gill is alongside him. Fazalhaq Farooqi bowls the first over.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Back to back fours and Najibullah Zadran has made a good finish to the innings, as does Karim Janat at the other end. Zadran is on 19 off 11, Janat on 9 off five. 15 runs off the last over, 13 in the second last so while India pulled things back in the 17th and 18th overs, Afghanistan managed to make a good finish in the end.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Good finish to the second last over bowled by Washington Sundar by Karim Jamal. He hoicked the fifth ball to fine leg and the last ball is smashed through extra cover. Arshdeep Singh will bowl the last over now.

IND vs AFG Live Score: Afghanistan 143/5 in 19 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: And Mukesh ends that over with the wicket of Mohammad Nabi. Tries to go big but Nabi ends up picking out Rinku at sweeper cover.

Nabi c Singh b Mukesh Kumar 42 (27)

IND vs AFG Live Score: Afghanistan 130/5 in 18 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Chopped on and Omarzai has to go back. Mukesh strikes with the first ball of the 18th.

Omarzai b Mukesh Kumar 29 (22)

IND vs AFG Live Score: Afghanistan 125/4 in 17.1 overs

India vs Afghanistan Live Score, IND vs AFG 1st T20I: Nabi lets fly! Third ball of the 16th from Mukesh is slapped high and over extra-cover. An extraordinary shot. Then he smashes the next ball over midwicket.