173/4 (15.4)
CRR : 11.04
172/10 (20.0)
CRR : 8.60
India won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Player
2/17
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan Captain): "We were quite short with the runs. We had a good start on the first ball but we weren't good enough. In the end we recovered.
If you can see sometime we play well in the powerplay, sometime in the middle and sometime in the death overs. This is the area we should go with that momentum and not do lots of mistakes every time in every game. We are going for the T20 World cup as soon as we cover this area and not repeat that to have a good World cup.
Gulbadin is the most senior guy in the team, has played lot of cricket for Afghanistan. We put trust on him and told him before the game that you can do it in that position and he did in the last game as well. When he played a few shots in the powerplay I told him to take the momentum to the end, he played really well."
If you can see sometime we play well in the powerplay, sometime in the middle and sometime in the death overs. This is the area we should go with that momentum and not do lots of mistakes every time in every game. We are going for the T20 World cup as soon as we cover this area and not repeat that to have a good World cup.
Gulbadin is the most senior guy in the team, has played lot of cricket for Afghanistan. We put trust on him and told him before the game that you can do it in that position and he did in the last game as well. When he played a few shots in the powerplay I told him to take the momentum to the end, he played really well."
Gamechanger of the Match: Shivam Dube
Smart Saver of the Match: Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma (India Captain): "Yeah, it's a great feeling. Honestly, it's been a long journey starting way back in 2007, and I have cherished every moment of it.
I was pretty clear about what we wanted to do and what we wanted to achieve as a team. We spoke about it earlier, and we have executed it. We have spoken about it in the dressing room and a very clear message to everyone, and when you see a performance like that, you can be really proud. The last two games, we have ticked almost every boxes. That's the most satisfying thing for me and my team.
They've had a great couple of years; Jaiswal hasn't played a lot in ODIs but has played Test cricket now and even T20Is. He has shown what he is capable of. He has the talent and has a great range of shots. Dube is a big guy, very powerful and can take on the spinners. That is his role, and he has come out and played two crucial innings for us.
I was pretty clear about what we wanted to do and what we wanted to achieve as a team. We spoke about it earlier, and we have executed it. We have spoken about it in the dressing room and a very clear message to everyone, and when you see a performance like that, you can be really proud. The last two games, we have ticked almost every boxes. That's the most satisfying thing for me and my team.
They've had a great couple of years; Jaiswal hasn't played a lot in ODIs but has played Test cricket now and even T20Is. He has shown what he is capable of. He has the talent and has a great range of shots. Dube is a big guy, very powerful and can take on the spinners. That is his role, and he has come out and played two crucial innings for us.
Axar Patel is the player of the match.
Axar Patel (Player of the Match): "It is less cold today. I feel good, I got to know about the achievement [only 2nd Indian to score over 2500 runs and take 200 wickets in T20] when I was preparing to bat and saw on TV, it feels nice but it is important to do well for India. I don't think I will remember the numbers in few years.
I was trying to bowl slow since 1-2 years but wasn't getting confident but bowling that in matches teaches me to find my length and my action to find the correct line. I am doing well since last 2-3 series which has boosted my confidence that I am carrying forward. I feel confident bowling in the powerplay and in the later stages. I am not afraid to vary my pace.
You need to be mentally ready that the next ball can be hit for a boundary as well and despite getting hit for a boundary one should be mentally brave and bowl in the same area. If the batter hits again then change the plan. Earlier I used to change as soon as I got hit for a boundary but now I challenge the batter to go for the big stroke again and take that risk."
I was trying to bowl slow since 1-2 years but wasn't getting confident but bowling that in matches teaches me to find my length and my action to find the correct line. I am doing well since last 2-3 series which has boosted my confidence that I am carrying forward. I feel confident bowling in the powerplay and in the later stages. I am not afraid to vary my pace.
You need to be mentally ready that the next ball can be hit for a boundary as well and despite getting hit for a boundary one should be mentally brave and bowl in the same area. If the batter hits again then change the plan. Earlier I used to change as soon as I got hit for a boundary but now I challenge the batter to go for the big stroke again and take that risk."
India won the second game by 6 wickets, dominating the visiting Afghanistan and took an unassailable lead of 2-0 with the third game slated to be played on Wednesday (January 17) in Bengaluru. For now, it's me AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ninaad Dixit, who, alongside our scorer/analyst Yogesh Kumar, brought you all the live-action of this enthralling game. We will meet again in the next game. Until then, it's cheers!