In the 3rd and final T20I against Afghanistan, India beat the visitors by 10 runs in the 2nd Super over. In a high-scoring game, India skipper Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh shone with the bat. Rohit, with his record-breaking century, outplayed Afghanistan, while Rinku supported his skipper with a well-deserved half-century.
However, earlier things were looking out of the way for India, as they had a very poor start. Young Afghanistan pacer Fareed Ahmad broke havoc in the Indian batting lineup, opting to bat first at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the 3rd over of the game, Fareed dismissed both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli on consecutive deliveries, leaving Kohli with his first-ever golden duck in T20Is.
In the very next over, India lost informant Shivam Dube too, as he was dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai. Dube, in his inning, scored just a single run after facing six deliveries. Soon, Fareed took another wicket as Sanju Samson failed to score a run. However, skipper Rohit Sharma, after some initial struggle, sparked a magnificent 190-run partnership with Rinku Singh.
Rohit, in his record-breaking innings, scored the 5th T20I century, making it the most by any batter, while Rinku hammered a beautiful half-century. Rohit, in his innings, scored an unbeaten 121 runs off 69 balls with the help of eleven fours and eight sixes. Meanwhile, Rinku, in his innings, scored an unbeaten 69 runs off 39 balls with the help of two fours and six sixes. In the end, India finished 212/4 after struggling at 22/4 in the 5th over.
Gulbadin Naib takes the game to super over
Chasing a massive total Afghanistan had a great start as both openers added 93 runs for the first wicket. Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 50 runs off 32 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, skipper Ibrahim Zadran scored 50 runs off 41 balls with the help of four fours and a six.
However, in the middle overs, Indian pacers made a comeback as Afghanistan struggled to score runs. In the death overs, Gulbadin Naib ran India’s party as he dominated Indian pacers in the last two overs. Gulbadin scored 18 runs in the last over against Mukesh Kumar and took the game to a super over. Gulbadin, in his inning, scored an unbeaten 55 runs off 23 balls with the help of four fours and four sixes.
As the game went into the Super Over, Afghanistan lost a wicket to Gulbadin and scored 16 runs off six balls. Mohammed Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added quick runs. However, things went ugly when Nabi unintentionally deflected the ball on the 6th and stole two extra runs. In response, India also scored 16 runs in six balls without losing a wicket. Skipper Rohit Sharma scored 13 runs on four balls.
Entering the second super over, the match unfolded after a previous encounter between the two teams ended in a tie. Now, Captain Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh stride to the crease for the opening inning. India ended their super over after losing two wickets for 11 runs. However, in response, Afghanistan lost their two wickets to Ravi Bishnoi in just three balls and lost a well-fought game.
Here is how fans react to India’s thrilling win:
Great victory led by Rohit Sharma's batting and Virat Kohli's fielding.
The best T20 match of this season— Suyash Bharadwaj (@Suyash75) January 17, 2024
What a win
One man army Hitman— ???? ??????? ?????? ? (@GDnarbhakshi) January 17, 2024
Disciplined Afghans lost to one man army The Hitman
— ???? ??????? ?????? ? (@GDnarbhakshi) January 17, 2024
Congratulation ?
— ??..Rai ji..?? (@Vinod_r108) January 17, 2024
Afghans should hold their heads high. They have pushed India throughout the game. They set the chase perfectly. Almost won it. Then stretched the super over.
India isn't used to be getting their nerves tested in bilatetals like this today. It's tested them and how they rose from…
— Anurag Rekhi (@Dravidict) January 17, 2024
Well bowled my man!!
— Guhan (@TheDogeVampire) January 17, 2024
Whats a superb match that was , exciting to watch . Well Played Afghanistan . Surely this team will give serious tough time to all the teams
— Salman Mirza (@SalmanMrza) January 17, 2024
One of the best game ever?? pic.twitter.com/X6fejeZQ9K
— White knight ? (@santhoshtiger14) January 17, 2024
Rohit Sharma as captain almost lost a T20i match against Afganistan.
Rohit Sharma is only captain to lose T20i match against Bangladesh.
Rohit Sharma also bottled rigged home WC.
Most overrated captain
— KRISHNA? (@KrishnaVK_18) January 17, 2024
Rohit sharma
Batting 20 overs
Fielding 19 overs
Playing 2 Super oversAnd people think he is Unfit.
For anyone who believed that he can’t play in T20,
Maybe you have your answer
Still hitting sixes and If someone things otherwise you play for this long and tell me— Abhay ?? (@abhayysrivastav) January 17, 2024
