India vs Afghanistan, 2nd T20I at Indore, IND v AFG, Jan 14 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Some terrific hitting from India even as it was a flat pitch, and a ground with short boundaries. The partnership of 92 between Jaiswal and Dube took just 42 balls, as India comfortably crossed the line. Now they have just one last T20I to play, after which comes IPL and then the much-awaited T20 World Cup, for which combinations must be decided quickly. But for now, this is it from us today, as India wrap the series. See you, and take care!

Axar Patel is the Player of the Match for his 2 for 17 on a batting-friendly pitch: "Feels great to know this double of stats. But it's more important to play and do well for India; I don't think I'll even remember the numbers after a few years! I was trying to bowl for a few years, but there wasn't that confidence earlier... I developed what I needed to do with my action. The confidence has carried forward. I bowl in the powerplay too. It's not that I can bowl only quickly; I can go slow too depending on the pitch. You need to be prepared to be hit. It's about the mindset, though, as you can change your plans. Now I continuously bowl in the same areas, and challenge the batsman to take chances."

Rohit Sharma, the winning captain: "It's a great feeling [to get 150 T20I caps]. It's been a long journey, starting in 2007. I think we are very clear what we wanted to do and achieve. When you see performances like that, you can feel very proud of it. There's one thing to talk about it, and another to go out and do it. We've ticked almost every box... [Dube and Jaiswal] have had a tremendous couple of years. Yashasvi plays Test cricket and T20 cricket [for India]. He's making full use of the opportunity. And Dube as well - he's got power, and can take down the spinners. We've asked him to do that, and he has played two crucial innings for us."

Ibrahim Zadran speaks first: "We were quite short. We had a good start in the powerplay... Sometimes we play well in the powerplay, sometimes in the middle [overs], and sometimes in the death overs. We are going for the T20 World Cup, so we don't want to repeat these. Gulbadin is the most senior guy in the team; we trust him. He played very well."

Time for the presentations

Niroop: "I wonder how India are going to fit Surya, Hardik and Jadeja into this team when they come back"

Shivam Dube: "I think the skipper is really happy with my performance. We both (Jaiswal and him) are stroke players. He was batting really well. We had a plan that both will be going, so let's finish the match as soon as possible. There wasn't any target [to finish], but we've finished on time! There are many things I have worked on. It's not about skill [only]... being focused on every ball is important. I am working on my bowling as well. Last match was good; this match wasn't on my bowling side. But T20 is like that"

Manu: "IPL will answer many such questions"

10.01pm A crushing win for India, who also take the series. Incredible aggression by Jaiswal and Dube to set this up, with the 173 chase ending with as many as 26 balls remaining. Just note the strike rates here: 68 off 34 for Jaiswal, and 63 from 32 by Dube. Rohit fell in the first over, after which Kohli played an attacking cameo in his first T20I in more than a year. But before all of that, it was Axar Patel's economical stuff which restricted Afghanistan. Hang around for the presentations.

Mahesh: "Who will India leave when Suryakumar comes back? Other than Rohit, all are doing great" --- Superb question, which we can think about all night

Final ball of the night?

From over the wicket now

This could entirely be the last over of the day

Wilson: "Aaaaand... Dube has hit more 4s than 6s..!"

The crowd going "Rinku, Rinku"

Rinku facing his first ball

Farooqi back

Naresh: "Disappointing!! Shivam is hitting only fours now"

Jitesh

Raj20: "I was expecting Jaiswal's 100 more than Dube's 50. Dube exploded!"

Janat from around the wicket

A good week to begin 2024 could've been so much more as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost the final of the Malaysia Open, but the lessons the final brought with it, if taken in the right way, has the potential to make 2024 an unforgettable year for the Indian pair.