India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the first T20I match in Mohali. After winning the toss and electing to field, India’s bowlers restricted Afghanistan to 158 for 5 in their 20 overs. Mohammad Nabi top-scored for Afghanistan with 42 runs, while Axar Patel was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 2 for 23. In reply, India lost early wickets but an unbeaten half-century by Shivam Dube guided them to victory with an over to spare. Rohit Sharma, playing his first T20I since the 2019 T20 World Cup, was run out for a duck. This victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.