NEW DELHI: Mohali gears up for the much-anticipated first T20I of the three-match series between India and Afghanistan on Thursday. The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is all set to host this thrilling encounter, and everyone is hoping for favorable weather conditions.
Thankfully, there is no rain expected to disrupt the proceedings. However, the players and fans should be prepared for chilly temperatures throughout the day, with an average daytime temperature of around 19°C, which will drop as low as 3°C at night. The expected average low temperature for the day is a chilly 7°C.

Apart from the chilly conditions, there are other weather-related challenges that the match will face. As the North Indian winter reaches its peak, the start of the match is expected to see temperatures around 12-13°C, with hazy moonlight.

The series opener is scheduled to begin at 7 PM IST, with the toss taking place 30 minutes before that. The teams will also have to contend with the challenge of dew, with humidity levels ranging from 55% to 70% during the match.
Mohali weather forecast for 7-8 PM IST:

However, despite these challenges, there is a silver lining. The weather forecast predicts no precipitation for the entire day, with a 0% chance of rain.
Mohali weather forecast for 9-10 PM IST:

This means that the focus will solely be on the return of Rohit Sharma, as his long-time colleague Virat Kohli has pulled out of the opening T20I against Afghanistan due to “personal reasons.” Kohli, however, will be available for the second and third T20 International matches.
India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has attributed Kohli’s absence to “personal reasons,” as he addressed the media.
Both Sharma and Kohli will be making their comeback to the shortest format of the game after a gap of 14 months. Their performances in this three-match series will be closely observed, as it will provide the team with valuable insights and clarity ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, which will be held in the Americas.