India won by 8 wickets.
In their 2023 World Cup match on Wednesday (October 11) in Delhi, India beat Afghanistan by 8 wickets, inspired by captain Rohit Sharma’s record-breaking 131.
India reached the goal with 15 over remaining to move up to second place in the points standings. Rohit took charge of the chase right from the PowerPlay, quickly dispatching Afghanistan’s 272/8.
India had only 13 from the first three overs of their chase when Rohit opted to take the fight to the opposition alone, so it wasn’t off to a fast start. Fazalhaq Farooqi had to be removed from the attack almost away after giving up 31 runs in the span of only 10 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.
The combination of short boundaries, a fast outfield, a flat wicket, a low target, and fog formed the ideal conditions for Rohit, who destroyed not just Afghanistan’s attack but also a number of records. In addition to breaking Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in international cricket (553) and scoring India’s World Cup century in the quickest time ever (63 deliveries), Rohit also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most hundreds in a single tournament (six).
Despite Afghanistan’s strange decision to restrict Rashid Khan until the 15th over during the bloodbath, Rohit had an excellent record against the legspinner in the previous white-ball format (four dismissals). By that time, India’s asking rate had decreased to a fairly comfortable 4.08, and the Indian captain had already raced to 88 off 52. Ishan Kishan was only three runs away from a half-century, but Rashid did not disappoint. Rohit ultimately lost to his googly too, but not before he joined the fight. Rohit’s attack was so strong that, with perfect timing, he really flicked one way over midwicket for a maximum. Hashmatullah Shahidi (80) and Omarzai (62) had earlier in the day rescued Afghanistan from a weak 63/3, but after choosing to bat, they could only manage 272/8 thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s greatest World Cup haul of 4-39. For the bulk of the middle overs, the two half-centurions were able to stave off the Indian onslaught, but Bumrah’s reappearance at the end prevented them from mounting a comeback.
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Afghanistan’s innings was revived by the skipper and a newly promoted Omarzai’s fourth-wicket partnership. However, the duo did take a moment to settle down before pressing the accelerator. Afghanistan had gone 11 overs without a boundary until Shahidi took a calculated play by slog sweeping Ravindra Jadeja because he knew India was down one defender inside the ring. When Omarzai went on Kuldeep Yadav in the 25th over, he finally broke the chains by lofting him down the ground twice in three deliveries. Afghanistan increased their run rate by scoring 89 runs in the following 10 overs. The pair prevailed in the middle-overs contest, reaching their individual half-centuries their route to becoming Afghanistan’s second-best World Cup partnership.
The India vice-captain smashed back hard in his next over by removing Omarzai, putting an end to the tough partnership. Shahidi had faithfully dispatched the two short balls from Pandya to achieve his half-century. When Kuldeep rejoined the attack, it was impossible for Afghanistan to regain the same momentum. This further slowed them down. The spinner troubled the Afghanistan captain a few occasions before ultimately trapping him LBW on 80 to end an outstanding performance of 10-0-40-1.
Bumrah’s return after his death indicated more disasters. Afghanistan dropped to 235/7 from 184 for 3 in the 35th over as India’s star bowler dismissed both of Afghanistan’s heavy hitters, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi, in the same over. Mujeeb ur Rahman and Rashid Khan made a brief attempt to threaten, but Bumrah stopped the latter’s enjoyable cameo on page 16, limiting Afghanistan to a poor 272/8.
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Afganistan bat first
India 273/2 in 35 overs (Rohit Sharma 131, Virat Kohli 55*; Rashid Khan 2-57)
Afghanistan 272/8 in 50 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 80, Azmatullah Omarzai 62; Jasprit Bumrah 4-39, Hardik Pandya 2-43)
India won by 8 wickets.
