India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets after chasing down a target of 157 with eight balls to spare in the first T20I between the two teams.
Afghanistan scored 156 for eight in their 20 overs, with
Azmatullah Omarzai top-scoring with 64. Mohammad Nabi added 33, while Arshdeep
Singh took three wickets for India.
India reached 157 for three in 13.4 overs. Abhishek Sharma
scored 82 to lead the chase, while Ishan Kishan contributed 42.
India took control early after Jasprit Bumrah dismissed
Rahmanullah Gurbaz with the second ball of the match. Afghanistan made 43 for
five after seven overs following a series of wickets, including Ibrahim
Zadran's run-out.
Sediqullah Atal briefly provided some momentum, hitting
Bumrah for a six and a four, but he was later dismissed by Arshdeep Singh.
Gulbadin Naib was caught off Axar Patel, while Varun Chakravarthy, returning
from injury, removed Darwish Rasooli.
Omarzai then helped Afghanistan recover late in the innings.
He scored 21 runs from the final over, bowled by Shivam Dube, to take
Afghanistan beyond 150.
India completed the chase comfortably, with Abhishek's 82
providing the main contribution. Ishan Kishan scored 42 as India reached the
target in 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead.
