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Follow Wisden’s match blog centre for the live coverage of the India v Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2021 fixture – live updates from the match in Abu Dhabi, including commentary and score, along with where to watch details: TV channels, broadcast and live streaming for Ind vs Afg.

India vs Afghanistan: Live scorecard and stats

India vs Afghanistan, Live Summary: Openers, Pant-Pandya carry India to 210

India v Afghanistan, live updates: Indian win!

That’s it! A big win for India, and they’re finally off the mark in the competition. The route to the semi-finals is far though, as there are still a lot of net run-rate complications. The first step has been taken though. They now need to (at least) win the next two games as well.

Jadeja, you beauty!

Bring out the cameras. Play this on loop.

Jadeja runs a mile, dives, and holds on to a stunner, but… the third umpire rules it not out, stating that the ball might have been touching the ground. Too bad, this was a catch for the ages.

Over 18: Afghanistan 125-5

Nabi and Janat have put on a useful stand here, which will really bring down the final margin of defeat. It’s all really over though – each runs matters for India, however, as it’ll decide which way the net run-rate goes.

Over 16: Afghanistan 98-5, India on course for big win

Nabi and Janat have arrested the burst of wickets, but the required run-rate has well gone beyond their control now. This will really help India’s net run-rate, and push them over Namibia.

Update: The spinners have really derailed Afghanistan’s innings here. Pressing from both ends, Ashwin has continuously attacked the stumps, and Jadeja has kept things tight from the other, taking the heart out of this chase.

Over 11, Afghanistan 66-4, Afghanistan slow down considerably

Thakur keeping it tight in the middle. From the other end, it feels like we have been transported to an Indian team of the past, with Jadeja and Ashwin bowling one after another. For me, Ashwin is golden in the powerplays in T20Is, and realistically has a few more years in the format for India.

First wicket for R Ashwin in half a decade!

Over 7, Afghanistan 49-3: Spinners enter to make further inroads

Big wicket! Gurbaz was looking in his element and Jadeja prises him out, great catch by Pandya in the deep. I was wondering when Ashwin will be introduced. Lo and behold, he’s here. 

Update: The best thing about Afghanistan is, that there’s such a wide array of power-hitters, that dismissals seldom slow them down, and the next batter comes in and picks up seamlessly. After this, there’s Zadran, Nabi, Janat and Rashid.

Also, Pandya is bowling really risky lines. On the body with decent pace, and he’ll swat it away.

Over 5, Afghanistan 38-2: Gurbaz loots 21 runs off Shami over

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is looking really good here. Don’t bowl slot to him – Shami sometimes has the tendency to send in full deliveries in the arc, which the 19-year-old is really taking a liking to. 21 runs off that over. Ouch.

India are really piling on the pressure here. Just 17 runs after four overs and both openers are gone.

Oh wait, Zazai’s gone too! Bumrah returns to strike again, and India have had a dream start with the ball. Honestly, Zazai could have been the biggest challenge for India when it came to coming close to chasing this down.

Over 3: Afghanistan 13-1, Shahzad departs after scratchy start

Ashwin takes his first catch in years, as Shami deceives Shahzad, with the ball ballooning in the air.

India needs to win by 63 runs or more to take their net run-rate to positive.

Pandya proving his worth?

Update: Bumrah, given the wealth of experience he has, really knows how to put a stop on rampaging opening batters. To Shahzad, he sends down a near-perfect yorker. Hope the shoes are fine, Shahzad.

Over 1: Afghanistan 5-0, Zazai looks to take on bowlers in the powerplay

Shami starts, keeps it tight. India will have to be especially careful against Zazai, who can be devastating in the powerplays.

We’re back with the chase.

India v Afghanistan, live: India finish on 210

The highest total of this World Cup. It’s been some performance!

The 200 is up!

Over 19, India 192-2: Late charge powers India towards 200

India fans, time to wake up and celebrate (even if just a little)

Afghanistan’s strategy to try out slower ones isn’t really working. It’s all coming in the range of Pandya and Pant, who are having little difficulty in clearing the front foot and hitting it in their arc. It wasn’t the smoothest of finishes, but there’s enough fuel to carry them past 200.

Over 18, India 175-2: Pandya, Pant look to finish strongly

Hamid, who bowled so well so far, lost a bit of his arc, feeding length balls to Pandya, who gets back some of his old mojo with a few hits to the fence.

Back-to-back one-handed sixes for Pant. He just launches them over the bowler’s head. He’s quite a freak, isn’t he. On paper, these two can be really devastating at the end, but have been a bit off-form recently. Now, with no scoreboard pressure really, it’s a good way for them to revisit their old touch.

The onus is now on new batters Pant and Hardik to play freely and take India to a really strong total. 

Rahul departs too, bowled by Naib, but he’s played so well today. 69 off 48 really set the tone for India.

Over 16, India 145-1: Rohit goes, but Rahul continues to dominate

Pant survives an LBW appeal, and is looking for ways to get quick runs. He tries a reverse sweep, and survives. Rashid finishes with an economy of 9.

Among other news, Rahul Dravid has been named the head coach of the Indian team! Some day for the two Rahuls of Indian cricket today.

Rishabh Pant in… This is interesting.

74 off 47 – a marathon knock comes to an end for Rohit Sharma. He’s done more than his bit.

Over 14, India 135-0: No stopping Rohit-Rahul

Rohit has really taken his chances: even some of his half-shots have gone over the fence – a couple of sixes to finish the over. Rashid’s gone at 11 today. Goes to show which side has dominated.

Rashid in. Can he turn things around here?

Fifty for KL Rahul too! These two aren’t letting anything pass.

Over 12, India 107-0: Rohit crosses 50, KL going strong

There seems to be no respite for Afghanistan yet. They’ve done well in bits, but KL and Rohit have also picked their spots and balls very well.

Fifty for Rohit Sharma! 23rd in T20I cricket. And it’s come at a good time.

Update: Both these openers are approaching their fifties. Rohit hasn’t been his fluent best, but he’s ensured he’s gone for his strokes. A lovely ramp over the keeper’s head shows what his approach has been.

That’s as good a start as India would have liked. Halfway there. Can they get somewhere in the range of 180-200?

Over 10, India 85-0: Openers lay groundwork for big total

11 runs off Rashid’s over. Good signs!

Rashid Khan appeared to slip on the pitch while bowling. He slipped and fell, but seems to be fine. He’s the last person Afghanistan would want unavailable!

Over 9, India 74-0: Opening pair continue to set platform

The new bowler in the XI, Sharafuddin, hasn’t really been able to keep the brakes on India. These two have managed to pick the gaps really well today, sometimes bisecting the fielders with ease. Are Afghanistan running out of options? Or is the Rashid danger just waiting round the corner?

If someone gets out now, would you want Virat Kohli to come in? Or send one of SKY, Pant of Hardik?

Over 8, India 65-0: Rashid comes in to slow down India

He starts off with a really tight over. India are happy to play him out, which is really a fair call, given what he can do on UAE surfaces. If you’re getting more than a run-a-ball against Rashid on a good day, you’re doing well.

Rashid Khan in. Now that’s going to be something!

This World Cup is showing us how diverse the talent pool is in the world.

Over 6, India 53-0: Hassan does well to pull things back

Review against Rohit, but he survives. An LBW appeal but the ball was going down leg stump. He would hate to go back now, he’s batting so well today.

Also, a word for Hamid Hassan, who’s also giving him good competition with great control over his lengths. Five dot balls against these two is quite something.

Over 5, India 52-0: By far, India’s best powerplay of the tournament

Nb, 1, 1, 4, dot, 6, 4

Rohit’s standing tall, moving around the crease, and targeting different areas. This has been a great start for India, their best in the first six this tournament. If these two continuing in the same vein, India could be finally looking towards a decent total.

Looks like a good surface, no doubt. There seems to be sufficient hardness and bounce on the pitch.

Over 3, India 30-0: Strong start by India’s opening duo

Looks like Rohit has come out with the mindset to unleash the shots early. He’s generally the kind who looks to settle down, but with the net run-rate requirements India has, they need to latch onto every opportunity.

Afghanistan have moved on to pace now. Naveen to bowl his first. KL and Rohit would first want to get the feel of the surface. The bowler’s keeping it tight, keeping it on the body.

Over 2, India 23-0: KL, Rohit begin accelerating

KL Rahul has decided to play his strokes. Clubbed nicely a couple of times to the long-on region for a couple of boundaries. A boundary every over is what India will be looking for at the bare minimum in the powerplay.

Left-arm spin now. Sharafuddin, who replaced Asghar, is in to bowl the next one. He’s got a nice, loopy action. Rohit seems to be in a cheeky mood today, trying out the inside-out drives and the leg-side ramps from the get-go.

Over 1, India 7-0: Solid, assured start from KL, Rohit

KL and Rohit nudging the ball around, getting a feel of the surface. “Get one wicket”, says wicketkeeper Shahzad from behind. Rahul tried to make room to hit one inside out, but decided against it. Rohit, however, hits the same shot with ease to the boundary.

Mohammad Nabi will start the proceedings for Afghanistan. Can India stand up to the spin battle early?

Rohit and KL are out in the middle.

Minutes away from the start. We’re set for the national anthems and flag display.

15 minutes to go: Something of a journey for R Ashwin, right? His T20I career was in limbo for four years, and now he’s back to challenge the young brigade.

Afghanistan XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan

India XI: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Toss Update: Afghanistan win the toss and will bowl first 

Here’s how India can still qualify for the semi-finals.

T20 World Cup 2021 India v Afghanistan: Where to watch live

India: Star Sports Network – Star Sports 1 (and HD), Star Sports 2 (and HD), Star Sports 1 Hindi (and HD), Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu and Star Sports 1 Kannada

UK & Ireland: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix; Sky Sports app, www.skysports.com

Afghanistan:  RTA Sports & Ariana TV

Pakistan: PTV Sports, A Sports Ten Sports. Matches will also be available on the Daraz app.

The complete list of broadcast (TV and live streaming) options for the tournament can be found here.

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