Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran won the toss and elected to field first, citing the possibility of dew in the second half and the challenges of defending a total under lights at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.Source: Bhaskar English India captain Shreyas Iyer said he would have batted first anyway, as the pitch looked good for batting.Source: Times Now Hindi

The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch is traditionally batting-friendly, with true bounce and carry. The surface is expected to be fresh for the first T20I, offering good pace for the batters. Spinners are likely to get some grip and turn as the game progresses, especially in the middle overs.Source: Times Now Hindi

The boundaries at the venue are relatively short, making it a high-scoring ground. The average first-innings score in T20Is here is around 170-180, and teams batting first will look to post a total in excess of 180.Source: Outlook India

The weather in Delhi was clear throughout the day, with temperatures around 33°C at the time of the toss, dropping to about 29°C in the evening. Humidity was moderate, and there was no rain interruption during the match.Source: SportsCape Magazine

Dew was a factor in the second innings, making it difficult for the spinners to grip the ball. This was one of the reasons Afghanistan chose to field first.Source: Times Now Hindi

India got off to a flying start. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson attacked the Afghan pacers from the word go, scoring 52 runs in the powerplay. Abhishek looked in sublime touch, smashing Fazalhaq Farooqi for two consecutive sixes over deep midwicket.Source: ESPNcricinfo

However, Afghanistan’s spinners pulled things back. Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Abhishek for 28, and Rashid Khan struck in his very first over, removing Sanju Samson for 22. Ishan Kishan, playing his first T20I in over a year, struggled to get going and was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi for 12.Source: CricTracker

Shreyas Iyer held the innings together with a composed 54 off 38 balls, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes. He was ably supported by Tilak Varma (24) and Shivam Dube (18), but Afghanistan’s bowlers kept the run rate in check, conceding just 42 runs in the last five overs.Source: ESPNcricinfo

Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/22 in his four overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/28) and Mohammad Nabi (1/24) also bowled economically.Source: CricTracker

Chasing 159, Afghanistan needed a strong start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided exactly that, smashing Arshdeep Singh for three consecutive boundaries in the second over. He raced to 39 off just 24 balls, putting Afghanistan firmly in control at 58/1 in the powerplay.Source: ESPNcricinfo

However, Jasprit Bumrah had other plans. Returning after a 189-day injury layoff, Bumrah produced a magical spell. He dismissed Gurbaz with a trademark yorker, then removed Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai in quick succession, finishing with figures of 3/18 in his four overs.Source: ESPNcricinfo

Varun Chakaravarthy (2/24) and Axar Patel (2/28) also chipped in with crucial wickets, as Afghanistan slipped from 58/1 to 98/6. Rashid Khan played a valiant cameo, scoring 28 off 18 balls, but his dismissal in the 18th over effectively sealed the game for India.Source: CricTracker

Naveen-ul-Haq tried his best with a quickfire 14 off 8 balls, but India held their nerve in the final over to seal a six-run victory.Source: ESPNcricinfo

Jasprit Bumrah’s return to international cricket was nothing short of spectacular. Playing his first match in 189 days, the pace spearhead produced a match-winning spell of 3/18 in his four overs. His dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz – a toe-crushing yorker that shattered the stumps – was the turning point of the match.Source: ESPNcricinfo

Bumrah bowled 14 dot balls and conceded just one boundary in his spell. His ability to bowl yorkers at will in the death overs proved decisive, as Afghanistan failed to score the required 14 runs off the final over.Source: CricTracker

Captain Shreyas Iyer led from the front with a composed 54 off 38 balls. Walking in at 68/2, he anchored the innings and ensured India posted a competitive total. His knock included five fours and two sixes, and he was particularly aggressive against the spinners, using his feet well to counter Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.Source: ESPNcricinfo

Rashid Khan proved why he is one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. He dismissed Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Shivam Dube, finishing with figures of 3/22 in his four overs. His googly to dismiss Samson was a thing of beauty, and he constantly asked questions of India’s middle order.Source: CricTracker

Gurbaz gave Afghanistan the perfect start with a blistering 39 off 24 balls. He took on the Indian pacers in the powerplay, hitting four fours and two sixes. His innings kept Afghanistan ahead of the required rate before Bumrah’s magic spell turned the game on its head.Source: ESPNcricinfo

India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 at the same venue. Afghanistan will look to bounce back, and their captain Ibrahim Zadran will be hoping for a better performance from his batters, who failed to capitalize on a strong start.Source: Outlook India

India, on the other hand, will be pleased with Bumrah’s return and the overall bowling performance. However, their middle-order struggles against spin remain a concern, and they will look to address that in the next game.Source: CricTracker