Finance
At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, India defeated Afghanistan in a double super over to take a 3-0 lead in the 5-match T20I series.
With their victory over Afghanistan, India’s skipper Rohit Sharma currently leads the team in T20I victories (42) among men’s captains.
India, which won the toss and chose to bat first, appeared to be in the lead from the beginning of the match. Afghanistan’s bowlers, however, had different ideas. They tormented the Indian top order, bringing them down to a shaky 22/4 in the first powerplay. As the momentum appeared to be losing steam, Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh saved the day by forming an enchanted alliance that defied the odds.
Rohit Sharma’s masterclass took center stage as he crafted his fifth T20I century, a remarkable unbeaten 121 off 69 balls. Rinku Singh played the perfect supporting role, finishing unbeaten on 69* off 39 balls. The duo’s extraordinary 190-run partnership propelled India to a commanding total of 212/4 in 20 overs, with Afghanistan conceding 17 extras in the process.
Rohit’s blade danced with grace as he notched up his fifth T20I century, a feat that propelled him to the summit of centuries in the format, most by any batter in T20I, leaving behind the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Suryakumar Yadav. The innings, a masterpiece crafted with finesse, saw Rohit amass an unbeaten 121 off 69 balls, marking his highest T20I score and the fourth-highest individual score for India in T20Is.
In a stellar display of partnership, Rohit found an able ally in Rinku Singh, and together they orchestrated a monumental stand. The duo’s unbroken partnership of 190* runs not only became the highest for India in T20Is but also surpassed the 176-run milestone set by Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson against Ireland in 2022.
The record-breaking spree continued as India amassed 58 runs in the last two overs of their innings, setting a new benchmark for the most runs scored by any team in the 19th and 20th overs in all men’s T20s. This phenomenal achievement eclipsed Nepal’s 55 runs against Mongolia in the previous year’s Asian Games.
The 20th over, bowled by Karim Janat, added another chapter to the record books as Rohit and Rinku plundered 36 runs. This remarkable feat equaled the record for the most runs conceded in an over in men’s T20Is, a distinction shared with the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard.
As the innings reached its crescendo, India’s score surged to 103 runs in the last five overs, a rare accomplishment in men’s T20Is. Only one other team had achieved this feat before – Nepal against Mongolia in 2023.
Rohit’s leadership prowess shone through as three of his five T20I centuries were achieved while captaining India. This milestone saw him draw level with Babar Azam for the most T20I tons as captain, marking a testament to his batting prowess and captaincy acumen.
The tale took an unexpected twist with Rinku Singh’s heroics. Batting at No.6, he notched up an unbeaten 69*, the highest score by an Indian in that position in T20Is. His remarkable innings etched a new narrative, surpassing Axar Patel’s previous record against Sri Lanka in Pune in 2023.
The climax of this cricketing saga revealed Rohit’s age – 36 years and 262 days – making him the oldest player from a Test-playing nation to score a century in T20Is. This landmark achievement surpassed the previous record held by the formidable Chris Gayle.
Afghanistan’s response was similarly heroic, with superb half-centuries set the tone by openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. After Gulbadin Naib’s incredible undefeated 55* off 23 balls sent the game into a Super Over, the suspense only grew.
With the ball, Washington Sundar became India’s hero, taking three vital wickets for 18 runs in his three overs. Despite their high cost, Kuldeep Yadav and Avesh Khan accomplished important advances. India’s ability to field was evident, which increased the pressure on the Afghan side.
After both sides scored 16 runs apiece in the first super over, which resulted in a tie, the stage was set for an unprecedented second super over. India successfully defended 11 runs in a tense finale, and it was the young sensation Ravi Bishnoi who etched his name in the annals of cricketing folklore.
Bishnoi’s exceptional spell saw him take two wickets in three balls, sealing India’s victory and breaking Afghanistan’s resilient spirit as India clinched the 5-match series 3-0.
Source:IANS
