(Image Source: PTI)
[Saba Sports News] India comfortably secured a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in their second T20I, thereby clinching the series in Indore on Sunday. Axar Patel spearheaded the Indian bowling attack, restricting Afghanistan to 172 on the Holkar Stadium’s placid pitch. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube then propelled India to victory with their rapid half-centuries, finishing the game with 26 balls remaining.
The match also marked Virat Kohli‘s return to T20I cricket, his first game in the format since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in November 2022. Kohli’s presence ignited excitement among the Indore crowd, who vocally supported him even after his dismissal. The match saw a brief interruption when a fan breached security to reach Kohli, touching his feet and hugging him before being escorted off the field by authorities.
The Madhya Pradesh police detained the young fan, who had entered the stadium with a valid ticket. He was taken to Tukoganj police station for further interrogation. The fan, identified on social media as Aarav (@sigma__male_), expressed his excitement about meeting Kohli, calling it the biggest achievement of his life. However, there was no official confirmation from the police regarding the fan’s identity.
In the chase, Kohli played aggressively, scoring 29 runs off 16 balls. After his dismissal, Jaiswal and Dube dominated Afghanistan’s bowling, with Jaiswal scoring 68 off 34 balls, including six sixes, and Dube finishing unbeaten on 63 off 32 balls. Their efforts overshadowed India’s shaky start, with captain Rohit Sharma being dismissed for a duck. Jaiswal and Kohli built a 57-run partnership, followed by a 92-run stand between Jaiswal and Dube, steering India to an emphatic victory.