India vs Afghanistan, ICC World Twenty20, 2021 Full score card

SIX! A maximum to end proceedings from Karim Janat but it's India who pick up the win! Pandya bowls a slower one, this is short and wide as well. Janat slaps it over the point fence for a biggie and finishes on 42. INDIA WIN BY 66 RUNS!

Banged into the pitch, around off. Ashraf makes a good connection on the pull shot, which goes on the bounce to the man at the cow corner fence. Just a single.

India finally open their account in this year’s World Cup and it is just the kind of win they needed to keep their hopes alive of going through. An emphatic performance from them when needed as they have smashed Afghanistan by 66 runs.

Back of a length, Janat pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for another single.

Shorter one, around off and Ashraf pulls this one behind square on thye leg side for a single.

Janat moves across the leg stump and Pandya follows him. Thakur bowls a length ball and cramps Janat for room, who manges to get it away on the leg side for a single.

FOUR! Pandya does not start the last over well. On top of off, Janat makes a bit of room for himself and slashes it into the point fence for a consolation boundary.

Shami gets the yorker in, around off stump. Ashraf jams it out on the off side.

Full and straight, driven down to long off for a single.

In the slot again and Janat thumps it back over the bowler's head for a couple.

OUT! CAUGHT! Well, Rashid Khan just had to go for the big shots and he ends up getting out for a golden duck. Mohammed Shami looks for the yorker, but delivers it in the slot. Rashid Khan clears his front leg and clubs it flat towards the long on fence. Hardik Pandya is stationed over there and takes a comfortable catch. Mohammed Shami gets his third.

NOT OUT! Ravindra Jadeja almost managed to pull off one of the catches of the year. A length ball, on off and this time Karim Janat looks to go big. Janat ends up completely mistiming it. The ball is skied up towards the mid-wicket region and Ravindra Jadeja sprints in from the fence at full speed and puts in the dive at full stretch. He does manage to pouch the ball but while landing the ball pops out a little and hits the ground, as per the replays seen by the TV umpire. This will be not out and a single is taken as well.

Sharafuddin Ashraf is in!

OUT! TAKEN! After a long struggle and a fighting knock, Mohammad Nabi departs. Shami bowls a slower ball, around off stump. Mohammad Nabi winds up for the big shot and launches this one a mile up in the air, towards the cow corner fence. This one doesn't have the distance and Ravindra Jadeja takes a simple catch, well inside the ropes.

Has Ravindra Jadeja taken a stunner? It does look like it, but the umpires want to make sure. Their soft signal is out. The TV umpire feels that the ball has hit the ground and hence, he overturns the on-field decision.

WIDE! Shami will have to reload. This is dragged down, way outside the off stump. Wided.

Rashid Khan is the new batter in.

Another full toss, outside off, pumped through extra cover for a couple of runs.

Full toss, around off, pushed to long off for one.

Slower, shorter, way outside off, Mohammad Nabi waits for it and then slaps this over point. Collects a couple of runs.

FOUR! Nabi is on the charge now! A touch shorter this time, around off, Mohammad Nabi whacks this one hard to the deep mid-wicket region and bags a boundary.

SIX! A slower ball this time, around off, Mohammad Nabi waits for it and then thumps this one over the long off region for a biggie. Ishan Kishan is just a spectator this time as the ball sails over him!

That was nearly a wonderful catch by Ishan Kishan (sub)! Excellent effort. On a fuller length, around off, Karim Janat chips this one towards the long off region, where Kishan sprints ahead, gets low, dives forward, but the ball falls short. One run.

An action replay of the previous delivery! Outside off on a fuller length, Nabi reaches out but fails to connect bat with ball now.

Gets it right this time, does Bumrah! Fuller, outside off, slower too, Nabi fails to dig this out and misses.

WIDE. This one was close. Fuller again, way outside off, but looked to be inside the tramline, Nabi looks to dig it out but misses. The umpire calls this as a wide.

WIDE. Fuller again, outside the tramline on the off side this time, Nabi reaches out, but misses.

Fuller around off, driven to covers.

FOUR! This is put away by the Afghanistan skipper! A pacy full toss this time, width offered too outside off, Mohammad Nabi opens up the face of the blade and slices this behind point. Boundary.

Played to sweeper cover this time for one.

FOUR! It is in the gap and a boundary results! A well directed short ball, around off, Karim Janat camps back and powers this one in between Virat Kohli at long on and Ravindra Jadeja at deep mid-wicket. Jadeja runs to his left, overruns actually, and that results in the ball going past the ropes. 100 up for Afghanistan!

A full toss, outside off, slapped to sweeper cover for one. 113 more needed from the last 4 overs!

A slower bouncer, around off, Nabi judges it well and taps this towards deep mid-wicket. Takes one, wants another, but Virat Kohli steams in, collects the ball, and throws it to the keeper, ensuring that this is only a single.

Slower in pace, on a length on the pads, Nabi misses his flick, and the ball takes the pad and finds Pant, who dives to his left and stops the ball.

On middle, this is stroked down to the long on region for one.

SIX! WOW! That has been smashed! On a length, around off and middle, Karim Janat whips this one delightfully over the fine leg fence for a massive hit!

On a length around off, worked towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Fullish ball, on middle and driven through mid on for just another single.

Bumrah brings out the slower wide yorker now, Nabi can't reach it. Yet another dot.

Good-length ball, on the hips. Janat whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

What a ripper! Bumrah peppers Janat with a spicy bouncer and Janat does well to duck under it.

NOT OUT! Back of a length again, around off. Mohammad Nabi goes on the back foot and taps it towards point for a quick single. Ravindra Jadeja, as he almost always does, hits the stumps at the bowler's end. The third umpire is called in and Mohammad Nabi was caught napping a bit but he's safe.

Back of a length, on off. Nabi hops and dabs it down towards point.

Fuller delivery, on middle and this is pushed down to long on for a run. Ravichandran Ashwin ends a fantastic spell with figures of 4-0-14-2!

Ravindra Jadeja hits the stumps at the non-striker's end and the TV umpire will have a look at this. Mohammad Nabi is comfortably in.

On middle and flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Slowed up, on leg stump and this one turns away from the right-hander. Janat works it through mid-wicket for a single.

On middle, Nabi makes room and drives it through covers for yet another single. Afghanistan need a lot of boundaries which they are finding almost impossible to find.

Ashwin holds this one back a touch and bowls it around leg stump. Janat works it towards short mid-wicket, where the fielder makes a half-stop and they do get the single.

Tossed up delivery, on middle. Nabi drives it through mid on for a single.

Slightly dragged down, outside off. Nabi cuts it off the back foot to deep point for one.

On middle and eased down the ground for a run.

FOUR! Cheeky but effective from Karim Janat. Flatter one, on off. Janat just goes down on one knee and paddles it off the stumps really fine. The ball ends up in the fine leg fence. A rare boundary for Afghanistan.

Angled in on middle and leg, Nabi nudges it towards mid on for another one.

Full and wide outside off, Nabi strokes it through the cover-point region and races back for the second.

On a length, on off and slightly turning away. Janat hangs back and wrists it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted ball, outside off. Janat drives it down to long off for a single.

OUT! BOWLED! Ravichandran Ashwin is turning back the clock right now! Najibullah Zadran pre-meditates the reverse sweep and Ravichandran Ashwin reads it. Ashwin fires it in, full and straight. Zadran doesn't manage to make a connection as the ball is just too full and sneaks beneath his willow. The ball crashes into middle stump and Afghanistan are going down quickly here.

This is spilled down the leg side. Nabi looks to sweep it away but gets a top edge to the right of short fine leg and they get a single.

Karim Janat arrives.

NOT OUT! Just short! Tossed up, around leg stump. Mohammad Nabi makes room and looks to go inside out but can't get any elevation on it. The ball goes uppishly towards Rohit Sharma at extra cover, who does pouch it. This is one of those catches that no one is sure about and hence the umpires rightly went upstairs. After taking a long look at it, the third umpire is satisfied and stays with the on-field decision of not out.

Slightly shorter and on the pads. Mohammad Nabi goes on the back foot and nudges it gently towards square leg. The batters come back for an easy second.

Is that a clean catch? The umpires do not think so as their soft signal is not out. Even Rohit Sharma is not too excited. It looks like the ball has bounced, before going into Rohit's hands. Will be not out.

A slider, on middle and leg. Nabi looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Outside off, slapped through covers for a single. 145 more needed in 54 balls!

Good-length ball outside off, Mohammad Nabi looks to push this to the off side but misses.

Slower this time, around off, Zadran taps this to point for a run.

Another run as this is steered through short third man.

Shortish again, around off, pulled through mid-wicket for a run.

Shardul Thakur starts off with a shortish ball outside off, this is slapped through cover-point for a single.

Shardul Thakur is brought into the attack now.

Floats this one up, outside off, pushed to the cover region.

WIDE. Down the leg side, Zadran looks to flick but misses. Wided.

Around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Fuller around off, the skipper pushes this through mid on for a run to open his account.

DRINKS! The Indian pace duet, Shami and Bumrah sent Afghanistan openers packing early on but Naib and Gurbaz did fight back for a bit. After Gurbaz fell, the sting was taken off the run chase and now after Naib also going back to the pavilion, Afghanistan will need a miracle to pull off this run chase. 152 runs are still required off 63 balls. The skipper, Mohammad Nabi walks in with his team in all sorts of trouble.

OUT! LBW! Ravichandran Ashwin strikes and Gulbadin Naib has been sent packing. Naib has a chat with his partner but they decide that this one was plumb and hence, do not go for the review. The fourth one falls and Afghanistan are not able to stitch meaningful stands. Ravichandran Ashwin floats this one up, lands it fuller around off, angling down, Gulbadin Naib gets low and looks to sweep but misses and gets hit on the pad. An appeal and the finger goes up in no time. 152 needed in 63 balls!

Quicker this time, on the pads, Naib awkwardly works this to the leg side.

Ash drags it short, around off, Najibullah Zadran nudges this to deep square leg and rotates the strike.

Quicker, flatter, around off, Naib skips down and tucks, but finds the man at mid-wicket. 153 more needed in 66 balls!

Another push back by Naib towards Jadeja. Another dot.

Short this time, on off, pushed back to Jadeja.

Quicker delivery, on the pads, worked through square leg for one.

SIX! Powerful shot by Zadran! In the arc this time, around off, Najibullah Zadran stands tall, swings his arms at this and tonks this one over deep mid-wicket.

Flatter, around off, Najibullah Zadran looks to reverse-hit this but mistimes it to the fielder at covers.

This is worked with the angle through mid-wicket for a single. A good start by Ash, just 2 off it!

Tossed up again, around off, Zadran does well to get his bat down and dab it down to the off side.

Floated, around off, kept out by Zadran.

Around off, Zadran looks to cut but gets an inside edge, back onto the pad.

Slower through the air, on the pads, nudged through square leg for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin comes in to roll his arm now.

Tossed up, around off, kept out by Naib.

A single to end then! Tossed up on off, Naib strokes it down to long off for one. End of a wicket-taking over by Jadeja.

OUT! That is a sensational catch by Pandya! Wow! It had gone so high and he also had to keep an eye on the ropes but has made it look so easy! On middle, Gurbaz looks to drag it over the leg side, gets a top edge. It goes between deep mid-wicket and long on. Hardik Pandya in the latter position, runs to his right and takes a superb catch. Gurbaz was looking good till the time he was out there but fails to get most of the start he got.

Out walks Najibullah Zadran.

Attacks the stumps yet again! It is blocked.

Fuller and on middle, this is worked down to long on for one.

Fires it on off, Naib is once again solid in defense.

Flatter and on off, Naib blocks it towards cover.

Back of a length and on off, Gurbaz stands tall and defends it onto the ground. A dot to end but the damage was done earlier on. Afghanistan finish the Powerplay with 30 in the last two overs but they are still behind in the game. They are 47 for 2.

Spin time! Ravindra Jadeja to roll his arm now.

Back of a length and on off, Naib stands tall and taps it towards cover for one.

FOUR! Easy pickings yet again! On the pads, it is quite full. Naib clips it behind square on the leg side. No chance for the fielder in the deep. Second boundary in the over. Afghanistan ending the Powerplay on a high here.

Outside off, Naib looks to go after it but misses.

Good length and on off, Naib pushes it but finds the man at covers.

FOUR! All of a sudden, it is raining boundaries now! On the pads, a hit-me ball. This is flicked through square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! Make that 21 from the over! Short and wide outside off, Gurbaz stands tall and slaps it over covers. This one races away to the fence. Just the kind of over they needed.

Change. Hardik Pandya is into the attack now!

SIX! Back-to-back biggies! That blow on the head has probably woken Gurbaz up! Shami this time drags his length back and bowls it on middle, this is heaved all the way, over the mid-wicket fence. 17 from the over with a ball to go.

SIX! Smack! This is right in the slot. Fuller and on middle, Gurbaz lofts it straight down the ground, it goes over the long on fence.

On middle, Naib works it through mid-wicket. A run taken.

EDGY FOUR! Afghanistan won't mind how they come as long as they do but they need it to keep coming! Length and on off, Naib looks to push at it, this goes more off the outer half past the fielder at short third man and into the fence.

Back of a length and on off, Naib stands tall and defends it.

Two to end! No timing at all but he does manage to clear the in-field! A slower one outside off, Gurbaz swings, he mistimes it completely but hits it well enough to clear cover. Two taken.

On middle, another extremely full ball, this is worked through mid-wicket for one.

Gurbaz just does not pick that one! A slower full toss, it dips right at the end, on off, Gubaz is almost done by the dip towards the end, he somehow gets bat onto it and it goes towards mid-wicket for one.

That has hit Gurbaz really hard! That is a quick delivery. A short one and on middle, Gurbaz looks to sway out of the way but is hit on the helmet. He seems to be shook by that.

On off, this is pushed to cover.

OUT! TAKEN! Number two goes down and Bumrah has his first! Zazai's struggle comes to an end! A short one, it is on middle. Zazai looks to pull, this goes more off the top edge towards mid on. Thakur moves to his right and takes it. Two wickets in two balls.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is struck on the helmet and the physio makes his way out into the middle.

Gulbadin Naib is in now!

OUT! TAKEN! Shahzad falls for a duck! This is probably because of the dots by Zazai at the other end. Shahzad looks to break the shackles. He moves around in his crease. Shami bowls this onto his pads. Shahzad is not a still position while playing the flick. He plays it early. It goes off the leading edge and Ashwin at mid off takes an easy catch. Early wicket, just what India wanted.

Really well fielded! That keeps the pressure on! Shorter and on middle, this is dragged towards mid-wicket. The fielder there dives to his right and makes a good stop. Just the one.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz walks out now!

Make that 4 in a row! Once again this is on the shorter side, a length which Zazai is not comfortable with. He looks to cut but misses.

Shorter yet again and outside off, Zazai slashes at it again but misses. Three dots in a row. Pressure building.

A slower one, fuller and outside off. Zazai shuffles across and swings, he looks to go over the leg side but is way too early in the shot. Misses.

Extra bounce and some nice swing! Shortish and around off, moves away. Zazai looks to cut but misses.

Fuller and on off, this one shapes back in. Shahzad looks to drive it through the off side but this goes off the inner half to mid on.

That is a brilliant delivery! This one comes back in a long way from off. A yorker length ball. Shahzad misses and gets hit on the boot. Going down leg.

He somehow manages to drag that on the leg side! A slower one outside off, Zazai seems to have been done in by the lack of pace. He still manages to get it through square leg for one.

Short and outside off, Zazai slashes at it but misses.

SIX! Whipped away! What a shot that is! Strong wrists! Fuller and on middle, Zazai whips it and this one goes over the mid-wicket fence. Not a lot of followthrough but it goes well over the fence.

A yorker to begin with! Zazai looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

A dot to end the over! Fullish ball, around off and Mohammad Shahzad mistimes his cover drive straight to the fielder. 5 off the first over.

Back of a length, on leg stump. Hazratullah Zazai hops and dabs it down towards mid-wicket for a single.

Will we see Ravichandran Ashwin operate in the Powerplay? Nopes. Not right away atleast as Jasprit Bumrah will operate from this end.

Length again, on off and angled across the left-hander. Zazai looks to hang back and thrash it through point but again there's a bit of movement and Zazai fails to make a connection.

Shami comes from over the wicket and delivers an absolute peach. On a good-length, around off and moves away sharply. Zazai gets comprehensively beaten.

FOUR! A little bit of width on offer and Hazratullah Zazai is underway is style. Good-length ball, around off and tapped through point for a boundary.

Shami starts with a shortish wide ball, from around the wicket. Zazai looks to cut it away but misses. The ball had a hint of away movement as well.

BYE! A bye to end the innings! On a length, around middle and leg again, Hardik Pandya looks to whack this to the leg side but the ball sneaks in between his legs and to the keeper, who fumbles, letting the batters take a bye. INDIA END ON 210/2!

FOUR! Streaky but it still goes to the ropes. Everything going the way of the Indians! A yorker, around middle and leg, Hardik Pandya looks to whip this to the leg side but the ball takes the inside edge and runs away to the fine leg fence.

BYE! A pacy short ball this time, outside off, Rishabh Pant backs away and looks to slap it away but misses. They sneak in a bye this time.

A rare dot ball! Slanting across on a length, outside off, Pant looks to heave it across the line but misses.

SIX! That is magical hitting! 200 up for India too! The slower ball, on a length around off, Rishabh Pant just smacks this one over the long off fence. Incredible batting from the Men in Blue!

FOUR! Funky batting! Starts the final over with a boundary, does Rishabh! A full toss, way outside off, Rishabh Pant shuffles across and paddle scoops this over short fine leg. One bounce and boundary.

Hamid Hassan (3-0-20-0) has been entrusted to bowl the final over.

Around off, Hardik mistimes his bunt towards long on. They take the first one quickly and complete the second run too. A direct hit at the striker's end but Hardik had made it back in. 19 off the 19th over!

SIX! HO HO HO! This is now the highest total in the tournament this year. Pandya is looking very menacing at the moment! Around off, in the slot, Hardik Pandya stands tall and spanks this one over the bowler for a biggie.

Fuller, wider, outside off, Rishabh gets low and hits this to long off, where the fielder collects it on the bounce. One taken.

On a fuller length, around off, Pandya finds the long off fielder on the bounce for one.

SIX! RAW PANDYA POWER! That has been forced past the ropes by Hardik! Slightly short, slower this time, outside off, Hardik Pandya makes room, anticipates this well, waits, and then smokes this one well over extra cover.

WIDE. A slower fuller ball, way outside off, left alone by Pandya. Wided.

The keeper, Mohammad Shahzad and Hardik Pandya have collided and the physio is out having a check. Hope both of them are okay. Everything seems fine now and we are ready to reume play.

DROPPED! Oh, no. Should have been taken by Najibullah Zadran but it has been dropped. A collision at the striker's end too. Let's start off with the delivery - a slightly shortish delivery, outside off, Hardik Pandya makes room and looks to slap this over the cover region but slices this high in the air. No distance on this and it goes towards long off, where Najibullah Zadran runs ahead, keeps his eyes up, but makes a meal of it as the ball pops out. The batters want the second run and they scamper through. The throw is towards the keeper's end, where Hardik Pandya collides with the keeper, as he was looking to collect the ball.

LEG BYE! Back of a length, on off and angled in. Pandya looks to pull again but misses. the ball goes off the thigh pads onto the off side. They get a leg bye. 15 off the over.

FOUR! Top shot from Hardik Pandya as he picks up the third boundary in the over. On the pads and whipped across, splitting long on and deep mid-wicket yet again.

FOUR! Hardik Pandya looks like a man on a mission. Hassan bowls a slower length ball, around off. This one sits up nicely and Pandya pulls it with authority and into the mid-wicket fence.

Nicely bowled. Hamid Hassan gets the yorker in, on leg stump and Pant jams it out to deep square leg for a single.

Length ball, on off and this is driven on the up towards long off for a single.

FOUR! Perfectly placed from Hardik Pandya. Full and straight, Pandya, with a flick of the wrist, works this through mid-wicket and beats the chasing long on fielder for a boundary.

SIX! And again! A length ball, on off stump. This time Pant gets an even better connection and hits another one-handed maximum, right back over the bowler's head.

SIX! Wow! Rishabh Pant and one-handed sixes have been a common thing now. In the slot and Pant looks to lift this one over long off. The hand comes off the handle but the ball goes high and handsome over the bowler for a biggie.

Change in bowling. Hamid Hassan (2-0-6-0) returns now.

Back of a length, on middle. Pandya punches it down to long on for a run.

OUT! Cleaned him up! KL Rahul tries to get funky but pays the price. Gulbadin Naib sees Rahul walking right across his stumps and fires in a full and quick delivery, on middle stump. Rahul looks to scoop it over short fine leg but gets undone by the pace and the ball sneaks underneath the willow and crashes into middle stump.

Slower one, well outside off and Pant slices it towards sweeper cover for a single.

In walks Hardik Pandya. Can he and Pant tonk a few out of the park and help the Men in Blue end on top?

A length ball, outside off and carved to deep point for one.

Dragged down, on leg stump. KL Rahul pulls it to deep square leg for another one.

On middle and leg, swept away to deep square leg for a single.

NOT OUT! Rashid Khan thought he had his 400th T20 wicket but the third umpire has spoilt it for him. Full and straight, Rishabh Pant looks to sweep but the ball skids through and hits him plumb in front. Rashid appeals and this time the finger goes up but Pant reviews right away. UltraEdge shows that there was a bit of glove on it and hence, Pant survives.

NOT OUT! Fuller, around the leg stump. Rishabh Pant comes down the track looking to nudge it on the leg side but gets beaten in flight and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal from Rashid is turned down but they do take the review. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved but Ball Tracking confirms that the ball was pitching outside leg. Afghanistan are out of reviews now.

This time, the finger has gone up for LBW against Rishabh Pant and the southpaw takes the review. This clearly came off the glove and the on-field decision has been reversed.

A skiddish delivery, on the pads, KL Rahul works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Review time! Afghanistan take the review for this LBW appeal against Rishabh Pant. Nothing on UltraEdge. This one has pitched outside leg and hence, will remain not out.

Slowed up a bit and on middle and leg. Rahul looks to flick it away but misses.

Outside off, Rahul waits and then guides it down to third man for one. End of a really good over from Janat! When all the others were going for plenty, he bowls an over which goes for just the 7 and also takes a wicket.

Pant wastes no time! He straightaway goes after the bowler, he steps out but it is bowled full and outside off, he hits it through covers for one.

Rishabh Pant has been promoted up the order and he comes in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally, Afghanistan manage to get a wicket and it is that of Rohit Sharma! Jannat strikes in his first over. End of a magnificent innings from Rohit Sharma. This is way too full and outside off, Rohit fails to get under it, he tries to loft it over covers but does not get the right elevation. He holes out to the fielder there, where Mohammad Nabi holds on. Can Afghanistan build on this? Can they now keep India under 190 or so?

A rare dot! A full toss, dipping outside off. Sharma looks to go over covers but misses.

Goes fuller, this is on off, it is hit down to long off for one.

FOUR! That has gone to the fence like a tracer bullet! What a shot! There is no stopping KL Rahul tonight! Short and wide outside off, it is cut through point. This one races away to the fence.

Karim Janat to have a go now.

SIX! This time he nails it! The last two balls turns it into yet another huge over! On middle, the googly, Sharma goes down one one knee and slog-sweeps it over the square leg fence for a biggie.

SIX! That is over the fence! Rohit was beaten in the flight there but still manages to clear the fence. Skips down the track, does not get to the pitch of the ball but still goes ahead with the shot. Connects well and it sails over the mid-wicket fence.

On middle, this is worked down to long on for one. 4 from the first 4 balls.

Another one on the shorter side, Sharma once again plays the pull, this one goes off the inner half through mid-wicket for one.

The googly, it lands on middle, Rahul works it through square leg for one.

Shorter and on middle, Sharma pulls it through square leg for one.

Rashid Khan (2-0-17-0) comes back on.

FOUR! Nice and fine! This is on the pads, Rahul pulls, it goes off the inner half, fine on the leg side. Races away to the fence. A boundary to start the over and one to end it. India batting Afghanistan out of the game at the moment.

Shorter and outside off, Sharma plays it through point for one more.

A yorker now on middle, Rahul clears his front leg and jams it through covers for one.

Takes one now, does Rohit! Angled into the pads, this is worked through mid-wicket for one.

Angled into the pads, Rahul works it down to long on for one.

FOUR! Up and over! Raining boundaries at the moment! Rahul now gets to his half ton. Another sublime knock from him. This is right in his slot. Full and outside off, Rahul stands tall and lofts it over covers for a boundary.

FOUR! Up and over! Short and wide, asking to be hit! Rohit carves it over short third man for yet another boundary. Naveen has taken a real pounding today. 40 from his three.

Goes length now and outside off, Rahul stands tall and looks to hit it through the off side, it goes off the inner half through square leg for one.

SIX! The 100 is up in style for India! Still a little more than 8 overs to go, they can get to 200 if the two hang in there. This is another hit-me ball, it is short and on the body, this is pulled and it goes well over the square leg fence.

Rohit misses out! A full toss, outside off, Rohit looks to hit it over covers but hits it a lot squarer than he would have liked. It goes to the sweeper for one.

FOUR! That fielder should have done better there! Rohit Sharma won't care though as he gets a boundary and reaches his half ton. A crucial knock in a crucial game. He though needs to bat longer here. This is short and outside off, Sharma cuts, it goes through point. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and looks to stop it but it bursts through his hands and goes behind into the fence.

That looked close but probably going down leg! Shorter and angling into the batter, stays low. Rohit looks to pull but misses to get hit near the crotch. An appeal but turned down.

Naveen-ul-Haq (2-0-24-0) has been brought back into the attack.

Ouch! That must have hurt! Shorter and on the body, Rahul stays back and looks to pull but misses. He gets hit near the ribs.

Fuller and on off, Rahul pushes but finds the man at cover.

Outside off, another slower one. This is slapped through covers for one.

FOUR! Cheeky and brilliantly played! Shorter and on off, Sharma makes room and at the end, opens the face of the bat and guides it past short third man for a boundary.

Rohit skips down the track, Gulbadin spots that and bangs it short. Rohit looks to pull but gets an inside edge onto the body.

Fuller and outside off, this is driven through covers for one.

DRINKS! After suffering two heavy defeats, India are looking like the team everyone expected them to be. This has been true so far given the openers, Rahul and Sharma have been sensational and have both raced into the forties. Afghanistan need wickets to stem the flow of runs or else they'll find themselves chasing a really big target. Also, Gulbadin Naib (1-0-6-0) comes back into the attack.

On middle, KL plays this to the leg side and takes a run to complete the over, 11 off this one.

What a delicate shot! Fuller, slower through the air though, around off, Rohit reverse-hits this past the short third man fielder. He gives it chase and just about manages to pull the ball back, before the ropes. Three taken comfortably by the Indian batters.

A flatter googly this time, on the pads, Rahul goes back and eases this to long on for one.

Fuller, tossed up, slightly outside off, Rohit Sharma gets low and sweeps this to deep mid-wicket. One.

On middle, hit to deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Finds the gap, does KL! Good batting from the stylish player! Rashid Khan bowls a fuller delivery, pacy too, on the pads, KL Rahul gets low and sweeps this past short fine leg. Boundary.

9 off this over! On middle and leg, milked to the long on region for one.

Rohit Sharma moves to the leg side and Sharafuddin Ashraf follows him with a short delivery. RS heaves this towards deep square leg for one. A misfield in the deep and Rohit looks for one more, but they settle for one.

On middle, KL plays this one nicely through mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Nice shot from Rahul! A boundary to release some pressure! Slightly short, around off and middle, skidding on, KL Rahul gets low and sweeps this one over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Rohit Sharma skips down to this full delivery and drives it to the left of the long on fielder for one. They were looking for two, but it was never a double.

Drags it short this time, Rahul nudges this to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Sharafuddin Ashraf (1-0-16-0) has been brought bck into the attack.

6 off Khan's first over! On middle, worked to the leg side for one.

Short this time, on middle and leg, KL goes back and looks to pull but gets an inside edge back onto the pad.

Good running by the Indian batters! Fuller, around off, lands and turns in this time, KL goes back and tucks this through mid on. They take one, realize that they can get another, and complete the second one too.

Another single as this is whipped through square leg this time.

Quicker and fuller on the pads, easily clipped behind square on the leg side for a single.

Rashid starts with a flatter ball, around off and middle, knocked through mid-wicket for one.

In comes Rashid Khan to bowl his leg-spin.

Around off, on a length, heaved through mid on for a single. 6 from Naib's first over!

Back of a length, around off, KL Rahul camps back and punches this through point. Takes one, wants another, but it is not available on this occasion.

A gentle push by Rohit Sharma to this length ball, down to long off for a run.

Slower ball, around off, knocked through mid on for a run.

Short, on off, and angling in, KL looks to pull but the ball takes the body and goes to the off side.

Around off, on a length, Rahul slaps this one through point this time. It looks like it will be a boundary but Hazratullah Zazai has other plans. He runs to his left, dives, and does extremely well to push the ball away from the boundary ropes. Replays show that the save was a clean one. Zazai saves two for his side.

Gulbadin Naib has been brought into the attack now.

What a cracking over from Hasan, just a single off the last over of the Powerplay! Around off, hit straight by Rohit to the mid on fielder. India are at 53/0 at the end of the Powerplay!

A full toss, around off, Sharma slaps this, without much timing, to the mid off fielder.

A laser-guided yorker, around middle, Rohit shuffles quickly and jams this one out.

At the last second, Mohammad Nabi decides to go for the review. UltraEdge confirms there's no bat involved. Ball Tracking shows the impact is outside leg. Original decision of NOT OUT stays and Afghanistan lose a review as well.

NOT OUT! Afghanistan lose a review early on. This never looked to be out. On a fuller length, around middle and leg, Rohit Sharma gets low and looks to work this to the leg side but he misses and the ball takes the pad and goes to the leg side. An appeal from the bowler for LBW but it is turned down. With time ticking away on the timer, Nabi takes the review really late. Looked to be going down leg but let's see what the replays say. UltraEdge says that there was no bat. Ball Tracker says that the impact was outside the line of the stumps and hence, this will remain not out.

Around off, Rohit mistimes his push to the fielder at mid off this time.

A fuller delivery, just outside off, KL opens the face of his blade and steers this to third man for one.

FOUR! Magnificent shot to end the over from Rohit Sharma. A length ball, outside off, Sharma skips down the track and creams this one over covers and the ball takes a couple of bounces before ending in the fence yet again. 17 off the over and India are motoring along.

SIX! Naveen-ul-Haq isn't enjoying his bowling today. This is in the slot, around the off stump. Rohit Sharma hangs back and looks to lift it over the long off fence and that is he what he does. A 90m six, that one.

Change of pace again, a slower delivery just outside off. Sharma with a gentle push to mid off.

FOUR! Rohit Sharma looks to be in good touch out there. Naveen-ul-Haq offers width and Rohit gladly accepts it. Sharma frees his arms and carves it over point and the ball races away into the boundary.

A length ball, on off and Rahul pushes it towards the cover region for a quick single.

Naveen-ul-Haq goes short and well outside off. Rohit Sharma fetches it and pulls it aerially towards deep mid-wicket for a single. The no ball didn't cost much for Afghanistan.

NO BALL! Slower one, angled in full and on leg stump. Rohit Sharma caresses it towards cover. The third umpire signals a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit time...

Length again, around off, Sharma drives it straight to cover where the fielder fumbles and allows the batters to cross.

Length ball, on middle and this is flicked on the leg side for another one.

Hassan goes full again, Sharma digs it towards mid off. The call for the single is a bit late from Rohit but they get through easily in the end.

Excellent delivery. Hassan looks for the block hole and finds it. Rohit Sharma does well to keep it out.

Full and straight, Rahul jams it out to mid off for a run.

A length ball, just outside off. Sharma dabs it down towards third man for a single.

Full and around off, Sharma drives it towards covers where Nabi dives to his left and gets a hand on it. Practically saved 3 runs for his team there, did Nabi.

FOUR! This delivery deserved to be punished. Naveen-ul-Haq bowls a slower length ball, around off. Rohit Sharma just hangs back and then pulls it away in front of square on the leg side for another boundary.

Change. Hamid Hassan to have a go!

Good-length ball, angled in from outside off. Sharma looks to drive it on the up but taps it back onto the deck off the inner half of the bat.

Fuller delivery, on middle. Rahul pushes it towards mid on for another one.

Slower one, well outside off and holds in the surface a bit. Rohit Sharma waits for it and taps it through cover-point for a single.

Naveen-ul-Haq hurls across a length ball from wide of the crease. This is angled in on off stump and Sharma taps it towards the mid-wicket region.

FOUR! And again Ashraf misses his mark and KL Rahul doesn't spare him. Rahul lofts it easily over mid on and the ball trickles into the long on fence for another boundary. 16 off the over, a good one for India.

Change. Time for some pace as Naveen-ul-Haq will speed in...

SIX! Wow! Ashraf looks to york KL Rahul but bowls it into the slot. Rahul hits through the line nicely and clears the long on fence with utmost ease.

Tossed up, on middle and leg. KL Rahul makes room but can't get it past short cover.

Fuller one, on leg stump. Sharma drives it through mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

FOUR! Rohit Sharma is looking to be the aggressor from the word go. Outside off and Sharma plays a cheeky paddle sweep past the short fine leg fielder and into the fence.

On middle and leg, Rahul nudges it towards mid on for a single.

FOUR! Rohit Sharma goes up and over and it's the first boundary of the game. Tossed up, around off and Sharma lifts it over extra cover and the ball runs away into the fence. 7 from the first over.

Full, on off. KL Rahul makes a bit of room and pushes it towards mid off for a quick single. The fielder scores a direct hit at the bowler's end but Rahul is well in.

Who will bowl from the other end? Sharafuddin Ashraf, it is!

On off and slightly drifting away, Rahul plays it towards covers.

Rohit Sharma is off the mark straightaway. Slightly fuller and on middle, stroked through mid-wicket for a run.

KL Rahul and India are underway. Flatter one, on middle and nudged towards mid-wicket for a quick single.

Nabi starts with a juicy half volley, outside off. KL Rahul drives it straight to point.

Right then, we are almost ready for play. Both the teams are out in the middle for their respective national anthems. First, it will be Afghanistan's, followed by India's. Done with all the pre-match formalities, now, the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul make their way out into the middle. Spin to begin things as Mohammad Nabi has the ball in hand. Let's get going....

The Indian captain, Virat Kohli says that they do know the situation is a tricky one. Adds that they haven't played to their potential and knows they can play better. Also adds that there's still a chance if they do play well. Informs that he would have liked to bowl first as well but it's not the worst thing to bat first against a team who themselves like to put the runs on the board. Lastly, he also informs that there are a couple of changes to the squad, Suryakumar Yadav comes back in to take his spot and Varun Chakravarthy has a slight niggle, so Ravichandran Ashwin is in the squad today.

Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan skipper says that, they will bowl first because there was a lot of dew in the previous match during the second half. Informs that Mujeeb Ur Rahman is still not available to play. Adds that they are ready to bat first or bowl first and today there are going for the latter. Menstions that they will go out their and enjoy.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (WK), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sharafuddin Ashraf (In for Asghar Afghan), Mohammad Nabi (C), Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan.

India (Playing XI) - KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (C), Suryakumar Yadav (In for Ishan Kishan), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin (In for Varun Chakravarthy), Jasprit Bumrah.

TOSS - The two captains are out in the middle for the toss. Mohammad Nabi calls head and it is heads. Afghanistan will have a BOWL FIRST.

The Afghans are themselves in with a chance to go to the top 4 and are probably in a better position than their opponents to make it through. A win against India will not only boost their possibility of going to the semis but also lift their confidence to another level. India are big time favourites but we have seen before, there can be an upset. Welcome to the coverage.

From tournament favourites to being on the verge of getting knocked out, that is the been the story so far for India. Every game is a must-win and by some margin and also hope the other results go their way. It will be nothing short of a miracle if they go through but first, they’ll have to beat an in-form Afghanistan side who have impressed one and many with the brand of cricket they have played.