Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul scored respective half centuries as India registered their first win by defeating Afghanistan by 66 runs in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
After being asked to bat first by Afghanistan skipper, Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma got their side off to a fantastic start. The duo added 140 runs for the opening wicket before Karim Janat broke the partnership by dismissing Rohit caught at extra cover for a 47 ball- 74.
Rahul perished soon after being yorked by Gulbadin Naib, while attempting a premeditated scoop for 69.
Rishabh Pant (27*) and Hardik Pandya (35*) put on an unbeaten 63 run stand for the third wicket to propel India to an imposing total of 210/2 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing 211, Afghanistan lost Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai early on in the chase.
Ravichandran Ashwin, playing his first game of the T20 World Cup struck in his second over by trapping Gulbadin Naib (18) with a carrom ball, leaving Afghanistan in a spot of bother at 59/4.
Ashwin then claimed his second wicket by dismissing Najibullah Zadran for 11.
Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat added 57 runs for the sixth wicket before Mohammed Shami claimed 2 wickets- first by dismissing skipper Nabi and then dismissing Rashid Khan for a first ball duck.
Janat remained unbeaten on 42 as Afghanistan ended up with 144/7, giving India a comprehensive 66 run win.
For India, Mohammed Shami picked of the bowlers with figures of 3/32,while Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 2 wickets each.
Rohit Sharma was declared the Player of the Match.