India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first T20I between the two sides, played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on September 13. Afghanistan posted 156 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Azmatullah Omarzai top-scoring with an unbeaten 64 off 44 balls, striking four boundaries and four sixes. Mohammad Nabi and Omarzai steadied the innings with an 83-run partnership off 56 balls for the sixth wicket after Afghanistan had lost five wickets in seven overs after losing the toss and being invited to bat first.
India chased down the target comfortably in just 13.4 overs, finishing on 160 for 3. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan put together a match-winning 121-run partnership off 53 balls for the second wicket. Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Match for his explosive knock of 82 runs. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 for 19 in his four overs.
Former India pacer Mohit Sharma opined that Afghanistan should have been bowled out for 100. He urged the Shreyas Iyer-led side to pick five proper bowlers in the playing XI. India fielded three batting all-rounders in Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, and Abhishek Sharma. However, the four overs they bowled between them cost 59 runs.
“They should have been bowled out for 100, but we also have to consider that the other team has also come to play, and they batted well. The five-bowler plan is a double-edged sword, because will you bring the part-timer at that phase or try to attack? You never know, there are two senior players, and they can stitch a partnership. I think you should at least have five proper bowlers in the playing XI,” Sharma said on Cricbuzz.
Bowling strategy and the five-bowler debate
Sharma’s assessment highlights the complexity of selecting the right bowling combination in T20 cricket. The challenge lies in deciding when to introduce part-time bowlers and whether to maintain an attacking approach or prioritise defensive bowling.
His observation about senior batsmen stitching partnerships underscores the unpredictability of T20 matches, where momentum can shift quickly.
The series between India and Afghanistan runs from September 13 to 17, with all three fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi starting at 7:30 PM IST. Shreyas Iyer leads the Indian side against Afghanistan, captained for the first time by Ibrahim Zadran.
