INDIA VS AFGHANISTHAN , SUPER 8 GROUP 1, T20 WORLD CUP, 2024

Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah starred as India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in the T20 World Cup Super Eight match on Thursday. This victory allowed India to extend their winning streak in the tournament Suryakumar Yadav’s brisk 53 off 28 balls propelled India to 181 for 8 in their 20 overs, following captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat first. Rashid Khan (3 for 26) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3 for 33) were instrumental in restricting India’s top and middle-order, but a crucial 60-run partnership between Suryakumar and Hardik Pandya fortified India’s score. In the reply, Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional figures of 3 for 7 enabled India to dismiss Afghanistan for 134.

Key Moments

Although Rashid Khan took important wickets during the middle overs, Suryakumar Yadav’s proactive and strategic play significantly contributed to advancing India’s innings. He notably used the sweep shot to great effect, maintaining India’s momentum even as they lost four wickets by the 11th over. Entering at a challenging moment during the eighth over, Suryakumar scored 41 runs from 21 balls between the 7th and 15th overs, laying the groundwork for a strong finish. On the contrary, Afghanistan’s batting faltered continuously and failed to produce an innings similar to Suryakumar’s, which might have shifted the pressure back onto India. Although the run differential in this phase was only 11, the growing required run rate added substantial pressure, which saw Afghanistan finishing significantly short of the target.

TOSS-
India won the toss and decided to bat first .

Team Line Up-

INDIA (Playing XI)

Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah

AFGHANISTHAN (Playing XI)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

INDIA

Powerplay: Early Exit for Rohit but India Off to a Strong Start on Tough Pitch

Phase Score – 47/1 [RR: 7.83, 4s/6s: 5/1]

Due to a challenging surface where the ball didn’t come onto the bat smoothly, the Indian top order struggled for quick runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi managed to keep the runs down to five in the first over, even though it featured a fortuitous boundary from Rohit Sharma due to a misfield. Mohammad Nabi continued the spell of tight bowling in the next over, conceding just four runs. Afghanistan squandered a review early in the third over believing they had Sharma out lbw, but replays showed the ball was off target. However, Farooqi soon claimed his prize, dismissing Sharma as he tried to accelerate. Rishabh Pant got going with a stylish flick for four and kept the runs flowing with Kohli, who collected runs aggressively including a straight six. Pant continued to attack, scoring successive boundaries despite a dropped catch, propelling India to a positive finish for the powerplay.

Middle Overs: Rashid Makes an Impact, Yet Surya Boosts India’s Innings

Phase Score – 79/3 [RR: 8.77, 4s/6s: 6/3]

Rashid Khan made his presence felt immediately post powerplay, breaking a quick 43-run partnership by getting Pant out lbw on a reverse-sweep. Despite losing Kohli soon after to a lofted shot, Surya Kumar Yadav responded boldly, hitting boundaries off Rashid. Shivam Dube joined in, dispatching the ball for a six, although his stint was brief after being adjudged lbw following a review. Hardik Pandya, showing assertiveness, drove through covers for four and masterfully played a whip-sweep for another boundary which brought up the team’s 100. Despite Rashid claiming his third wicket, Surya Kumar and Pandya maintained the scoring momentum, pushing India past a challenging middle phase.

Death Overs: Surya and Hardik Propel India to a Strong Total

Phase Score – 55/4 [RR: 11.00, 4s/6s: 5/3]

Pandya brilliantly hit a cover drive followed by a powerful six in the 16th over. The duo’s half-century partnership came up quickly, before Surya Kumar brought up his fifty but lost his wicket to a slower ball shortly after. Pandya continued attacking but fell while attempting another big shot. Ravindra Jadeja managed a boundary but also succumbed to Farooqi, who secured his third wicket of the match. Axar Patel’s late boundaries helped India conclude the innings on a high note with over 180 runs on the board.

AFGHANISTAN

Power play: Bumrah and Axar Strike Early

Phase Score – 35/3 [RR: 5.83, 4s/6s: 2/2]

Rahmanullah Gurbaz kicked off with aggressive shots but Bumrah quickly tempered Afghanistan’s start by removing him cheaply, and conceded minimal runs. Ibrahim Zadran managed a boundary before being dismissed by Axar, who started his over with a wicket-maiden. Bumrah continued his effective spell by taking another wicket, while Azmatullah Omarzai managed a streaky boundary. Despite a last-ball six, Afghanistan’s powerplay finished under the expected run rate.

Middle Overs: India Continues to Clamp Down

Phase Score – 66/2 [RR: 7.33, 4s/6s: 2/3]

Pandya and Axar bowled constricting spells, with Pandya only slipping once with a full delivery hit for four. Kuldeep Yadav, despite a shaky start with a no-ball, and Jadeja, who was hit for a six, eventually took critical wickets under pressure as Afghanistan struggled to increase their pace amidst escalating required rate, leading to vital dismissals in their pursuit of a steep target.

Death Overs: Clinical Finish by Bumrah and Arshdeep

Phase Score – 33/5 [RR: 6.60, 4s/6s: 2/2]

Bumrah and Arshdeep efficiently closed out the innings, with Bumrah removing set batsmen and Arshdeep cleaning up the tail, thus sealing a decisive victory for India. Afghanistan managed to exhaust their overs but fell significantly short of their target.

Brief Scores:

India 181/8 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 53, Hardik Pandya 32; Rashid Khan 3-26, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-33) defeated Afghanistan 134 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 26; Jasprit Bumrah 3-7, Arshdeep Singh 3-36, Kuldeep Yadav 2-32) by 47 runs.