Team India reached Bengaluru in preparation for the upcoming third and final T20I against Afghanistan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, January 17.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) showcased the players’ journey from Indore to Bengaluru on Monday, January 15, highlighting the traditional welcome they received at the team hotel. The post was captioned by BCCI on X (formerly Twitter).
“Indore to Bengaluru. Team India in town for the third and final T20I.”
For those unfamiliar, the Indian cricket team, known as the Men in Blue, have participated in nine T20I matches at the venue. Out of these, they emerged victorious in three games, and one concluded without a result. Their most recent success in Bengaluru was a six-run victory over Australia on December 3 last year.
Indore ✈️ Bengaluru#TeamIndia in town for the 3⃣rd & final T20I 👏 👏#INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/xKKRi6yf9W
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2024
All eyes are on Rohit Sharma in less crucial matches against Afghanistan
The focus will be on India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, in Wednesday’s third and last T20I against Afghanistan. The prominent opener faced two successive ducks in the initial games after a break from the format lasting over a year. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, the star player for Royal Challengers Bangalore, aims to deliver a memorable performance for the audience.
In the second T20I, the right-handed batsman scored 29 runs off 16 balls, marking his return to the format since the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament. India is currently in the lead in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, having won 2-0. In the initial match, they achieved a six-wicket triumph, thanks to Shivam Dube’s well-rounded performance.
Dube secured 1 wicket for 9 runs in his two overs and contributed a match-winning innings of 60 not out off 40 balls. The Indian team secured the second T20I with the same margin of a six-wicket victory. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube played a crucial role in chasing the 173-run target.
Jaiswal scored 68 runs off 34 balls with six sixes and five boundaries, while Dube remained unbeaten with 63 runs off 32 deliveries, including four sixes and five boundaries. Rohit Sharma and his team are now aiming to secure a 3-0 whitewash against the visiting team. This match is their final T20I before the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, set to commence in June later this year.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.