Head-to-head
Numbers Game
Having recently exceeded all expectations in their giant-killing run during the ODI World Cup in India, Afghanistan will be high on confidence in a format that suits them the most. Barring Rashid Khan's injury-forced absence, the team is at full strength after the likes Mujeeb Zadran, Naveen-Ul Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi sorted their contractual issues with the country's cricket board.
The spotlight will be on returning Rohit Sharma as his long-time colleague Virat Kohli pulled out of the opening T20I against Afghanistan due to "personal reasons" ahead of the first ever white-ball series between the two teams. Kohli, though, will be available for the second and third T20 International. India head coach Rahul Dravid attributed Kohli's pull-out to "family reasons".
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the T20I series opener between India and Afghanistan in Mohali.