New Delhi: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, with the help of his record-making fifth T20I century and the rising star Rinku Singh’s second T20I fifty, India defeated the Afghanistan cricket team in the drama-filled third T20I match to clean sweep the series by 3-0.
India, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, suffered early jitters, as they were 22 for 4 after 4.3 overs, but skipper Rohit Sharma (121*) and Rinku Singh (69*) played heroic knocks to take the team’s final score to 212 for 4 after 20 overs.
🎥 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
In reply, Afghanistan, with the help of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (50), skipper Ibrahim Zadran (50), Mohammed Nabi (34) and Gulbadin Naib (55*), levelled the score on the final ball of the innings, forcing the match to go into super over.
Sensational Stuff from Gulbadin Naib as he brings up an incredible half-century against India! 🤩👏#AfghanAtalan | #INDvAFG2024 pic.twitter.com/hA9E9yEfJI
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 17, 2024
Afghanistan, batting first in the first over, scored 16 runs, while India also scored 16 runs, forcing the match to into the second consecutive super over.
Despite getting ten runs from the first two balls of the second super over, India only managed to score 11 runs in total and gave Afghanistan just 12 off 6 to chase.
However, the Afghani batters crumbled down under pressure after fighting valiantly for the entirety of the match and lost both their allocated wickets in just 3 balls to give India a win by ten runs in the second super over.
Super Over Thriller and Rohit brilliance
– Dravid.#RohitSharma #IndvsAfg #SuperOver
pic.twitter.com/X7fMjxPjdI— Stellar45 (@RoSixSharma) January 18, 2024
Rohit Sharma was named player of the match after his iconic knock, while Shivam Dube was named player of the series.
Netizens react
As soon as India registered the win in the iconic double super over thriller, netizens on X (Formerly known as Twitter) filled the social media platform while giving their take on the nerve-wracking thriller.
Check out their reactions below:
Official – Rohit Sharma himself confirmed his participation in t20 World cup as captain .
2min silence for Hardik pandya and his gym videos 😭#INDvsAFG | #RohitSharma | #Hitmanpic.twitter.com/72oP8y3u4s
— Immy|| 🇮🇳 (@TotallyImro45) January 18, 2024
Virat Kohli in the field was incredible today🔥
~Covered alomost 40m to take a catch
~Saved 6
And that throw in super over#INDvsAFG #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/e7oqYG7IWL— 𝑺𝒏𝒆𝒉𝒂🐌 (@_BornToLive_) January 17, 2024
Avesh khan was required to finish the match early pic.twitter.com/bNudTBqUdQ
— memes_hallabol (@memes_hallabol) January 18, 2024
#INDvsAFG 3rd T20I
A meme thread 🧵Ye bhed bhav kyu pic.twitter.com/7PXlLg1XXm
— memes_hallabol (@memes_hallabol) January 18, 2024
True af 🤣🤣🤣🤣#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/ehyQPIW94W
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) January 17, 2024
What a humble nature of Rohit Sharma!
❤️😊👍#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/SfHsSNbQHZ— Satyam upadhyay (@Frudo9453) January 18, 2024
No Virat Kohli fan will pass without liking this. #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #RinkuSingh #INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/FgPy5HeiTt
— Avinav Nandi (@Avinav_Nandi69) January 18, 2024
No Virat Kohli fan will pass without liking this. #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/7wOMDrRqz7
— AYUSH 2.0 (@AYUSH16769142) January 18, 2024
India Won the Series But Afghanistan Won the Heart,s👏🇦🇫
Proud of #AfghanAtalan 😘#AFGvsIND #INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/T4Sh5C0EAG
— Pathan Bhai (@PathanBhaiii) January 17, 2024
3-0.🔥 uff.What a Win..Congrats To Team India.Because of combined efforts of all Team won.@BCCI@ImRo45 Century Master. Hitman. GOAT. Rinku singh is really a Great finisher. Love to see him playing like this#ViratKohli what a Catch that was. You can fly? Kudos to all🙏🏻#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/UxXLfWtq7M
— Dementors (@LappuSaSachin4) January 18, 2024
Virat Kohli’s fielding masterclass stole the show! 🌟 First, a stellar effort to save a six, followed by a sensational running catch, and then a pinpoint throw for a crucial run-out in the super over. Captain Kohli, setting the field on fire! 🔥 #INDvAFG #ViratKohli𓃵 #INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/KYlyzTFJF7
— Prabu (@Lats2023) January 18, 2024
#RohitSharma𓃵 🔥🔥 in 3rd T20i
121* off 69
24 off 7 (2 Super Overs) #INDvsAFGFt. It’s Magic #HrithikRoshan𓃵 #Fighter pic.twitter.com/iWXvvlY47P
— FIGHTER (@45RohiRat18Fan) January 18, 2024
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
No fans of #ViratKohli will pass without liking this post #RohitSharma𓃵 #RohitSharma #AFGvsIND #ViratKohli𓃵#Right_To_Life #MindfulMeditation#INDvsAFG#HDFCBANK#Hitman#superover pic.twitter.com/zNQsoSHzjZ— Dinesh Chouhan (@DineshC4777) January 18, 2024