14 September,2026 05:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Varun Chakaravarthy (Pic: File Pic)
In the first T20I match against Afghanistan, Team India secured a win by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
During the match, Team India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy claimed one wicket by conceding 16 runs in four overs. Ahead of the two T20I matches, the spinner has been ruled out due to an injury. The injury has also put him in doubt for the upcoming Asian Games 2026.
"It is a fresh injury. He is out of the series," said a BCCI source.
Recently, Chakaravarthy recovered from the hamstring injury that he suffered during the tour of England.
During the first match, along with Chakaravarthy, lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel also bagged one wicket each. Arshdeep Singh returned with the figures of three wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, and Shivam Dube went wicketless in the clash against the Afghans.
Later, Team India's wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson departed after scoring 10 runs in eight balls, which included two boundaries. Star opening batsman Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 off just 32 deliveries. His knock was laced with seven boundaries and the same number of maximums. Ishan Kishan also garnered 42 runs in 33 balls, with the help of five boundaries and a maximum.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma stayed unbeaten on eight and three runs, respectively. Skipper Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma stayed unbeaten on eight and three runs, respectively. Facing five balls, Iyer smashed a boundary, whereas Varma faced four balls.
Following the victory, the "Men in Blue" have taken a lead by 1-0 in the three-match series against the Afghans. The second T20I match is scheduled to be played on September 15 at the same venue.
India: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy', Axar Patel, Washington Sundar', Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah', Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana'.
Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Nangeyalia Kharote, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Noor Ahmad, Noor ul Rahman (WK), Abdullah Ahmadzai.
(With PTI Inputs)