• Source:JND
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India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that they are focusing on getting past the challenges in the shortest format, especially in the scenarios where they might feel slightly uncomfortable,

The team management is trying their best to put such situations in front of the side as they gear up for the T20 World Cup 2024 which begins in June.

The Men in Blue defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the first T20I match at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Friday, January 12.

 

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The three-match series against Afghanistan is India's last before the T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be hosted by the United States and the West Indies.

The game marked Rohit's comeback to the shortest format after 14 months.

"We want to keep trying different things - try and bowl our bowlers in different situations of the game, like you saw today, Washi (Washington Sundar) bowled the 19th over. We want to challenge ourselves in the areas we are slightly uncomfortable with and the bowlers are not used to that," said Rohit.

"We want to try and do that. Keeping all of those things in mind, we'll try and do whatever is possible but not at the cost of the game. We want to make sure that we come out on top and play the game well. All in all, today was a good day for us," he said at the post-match presentation.

India chased down the 159-run target in 17.3 overs on the back of Shivam Dube's unbeaten innings of 60 runs in 40 balls, taking a wicket as well with his medium pace.

"There are a lot of positives. Shivam Dube, the way Jitesh batted, Tilak as well, and then Rinku is in good form as well."

 

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Earlier, India opted to bowl first after winning the toss and restricted the visitors to 158/5 in their 20 overs with Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel taking two wickets each.

Despite losing the skipper Rohit early in the innings for 0, India chased down the target in the 18th over with Shubman Gill (23), Tilak Varma (26), Jitesh Sharma (21), and Rinku Singh (16*) also contributing with the bat as the hosts took 1-0 lead in the series.