New Delhi: The Indian cricket team on Wednesday proved cricket is called the game of uncertainties, as despite getting reduced to 22 for 4, in the powerplay, the men in blue produced one of the most, if not the most enthralling T20I matches in the history of cricket.
The Afghanistan cricket team also proved why they are not a team to be taken seriously, as they can perform upset on any given day with the level of talent they possess.
The match will also go down in the history books as three major records were made during the match.
Check out all the three records:
1] Rohit’s record century
🎥 That Record-Breaking Moment! 🙌 🙌@ImRo45 notches up his 5⃣th T20I hundred 👏 👏
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/oJkETwOHlL#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ITnWyHisYD
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024
Rohit Sharma, who was featured in his first T20I series after the 2022 T20 World Cup, made his statement when he scored a record fifth T20I century and became the first player to do so.
Surya Kumar Yadav and Glenn Maxwell are in the joint second spot with four centuries each.
2] Highest partnership for India
Rohit Sharma 🤝 Rinku Singh
OuR’RR’ 😎 💪#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @ImRo45 | @rinkusingh235 pic.twitter.com/SfKSl07JoE
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024
Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh, during their fighting knocks, stitched a record 190-run not-out partnership, which is the highest ever by any Indian pair for any wicket, going past Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson’s 176 runs partnership for the second wicket against Ireland.
3] Two super overs in one game
Double the drama 🫣
Double the nerves 🥶
All thanks to a Double Super-Over 💥A BTS view of the thriller from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with #TeamIndia 👌👌
WATCH 🎥🔽 #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Uy4OAXVTJz
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2024
The match between India and Afghanistan featured two super overs as the match was tied after regulation 40 overs and the first super over, which is the first instance in T20Is to do so.
As it happened
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, after winning the toss, opted to bat first, but the decision turned out to be a tough call from the Indian side as they were reduced to 22 for 4 after Yashasvi Jaiswal (4), Virat Kohli (0), Shivam Dube (1) and Sanju Samson (0), were all sent back to the pavilion in the span of 12 balls.
However, Rohit Sharma (121*) and Rinku Singh (69*), stitched a record-breaking partnership to take Indian total to 212 for 4 after 20 overs.
Deposited into the stands! 👌 👌 @rinkusingh235 🤝 @ImRo45
Watch those cracking MAXIMUMS 🎥 🔽
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/oJkETwO9wd #TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/syspMIpoo7
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024
Fareed Ahmed was the most successful Afghani bowler with three wickets under his belt, while Azmatullah Omarzai took one wicket for himself.
In reply, Afghanistan got a great start as their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (50) and Ibrahim Zadran (50) added 93 runs for the first wicket giving a perfect start to their team.
Gulbadin Naib (55*) and Mohammed Nabi (34), then played blistering knocks to finish the innings with scores levelled, forcing the match to go into super overs.
Sharp catch and a breakthrough! 🙌
Kuldeep Yadav gets Rahmanullah Gurbaz!
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/oJkETwOHlL#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @imkuldeep18 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/APrdTLzhEt
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024
Interestingly, the game was still tied after the first super over, and it was only after the second super over that the match was finally concluded with the hosts India as the ultimate winners.
#TeamIndia Captain @ImRo45 receives the trophy after a dramatic end to the #INDvAFG T20I series 👏👏
India win the T20I series 3⃣-0⃣@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/9LQ8y3TFOq
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024
