NEW DELHI: India skipper Rohit Sharma's return to the T20I fold after a 14-month gap turned out to be a nightmare, as he could play only two balls before being dismissed for a duck in a horrendous mix-up with non-striker Shubman Gill during the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday.
A visibly angry Rohit couldn't put a check on his emotions as lashed out at his partner Gill while walking back to the dugout.
India, set to chase 159, suffered early blow on the second delivery of the innings. Rohit struck a powerful shot to mid-off off Fazalhaq Farooqi's delivery, and Ibrahim Zadran came up with an impressive effort to stop the ball. Following the shot, Rohit immediately went for a run, but his partner, Gill, was more focused on tracking the ball rather than responding to the call for a run.
Zadran efficiently collected the ball and swiftly threw it to the striker's end, catching Rohit off guard. Frustration and disappointment were evident on Rohit's face as he expressed his discontent with Gill at the opposite end.
Earlier, a stroke-filled 68-run partnership between Mohammad Nabi (42 off 27) and Azmatullah Omarzai (29 off 22) was just what Afghanistan needed after India reduced the visitors to 57 for three in 10 overs amid chilly conditions at the PCA Stadium.
The duo lifted Afghanistan to 158 for five in 20 overs after India dominated the powerplay in the first T20I.
