India Clinches Victory Over Afghanistan With Rohit Century Leading The Charge

In a thrilling match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, India notched their second consecutive victory in the ODI World Cup by clinching a decisive win against Afghanistan, triumphing by eight wickets. The stage was set as Afghanistan won the toss and set a target of 273 runs. Hashmatullah Shahidi’s impressive innings of 80 and Asmatullah Omarzai’s solid performance with 62 runs were the highlights that bolstered Afghanistan’s score. Jasprit Bumrah emerged as a key figure, claiming four wickets and keeping the Afghan batsmen in check.In response, Captain Rohit Sharma showcased his brilliance with a remarkable century, smashing 131 runs off 84 balls and leading India to victory in just 35 overs. Supported by the steady batting of Virat Kohli, who remained unbeaten at 55, and Ishan Kishan’s impactful 47, the trio anchored India’s successful chase.

The partnership between Rohit and Kishan was instrumental, adding an impressive 156 runs for the first wicket. While Kishan displayed careful batting, Rohit took on the Afghan bowlers aggressively, achieving a remarkable individual score of 76 runs in the first ten overs. Rohit achieved his century in just 63 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century by an Indian player in the World Cup, surpassing Kapil Dev’s 72-ball century in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe.Following his century, Rohit continued to contribute, scoring a total of 49 runs alongside Kohli. However, he was eventually bowled by Rashid Khan, having hit five fours and five sixes. The Kohli-Shreyas Iyer partnership further solidified India’s path to victory, adding 68 runs. Kohli’s innings included six boundaries.

In contrast, Afghanistan faced a challenging start, losing three wickets with only 63 runs on the board. Ibrahim Sadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Rahmat Shah were unable to make significant contributions. However, Shahidi and Omarzai’s partnership breathed life back into Afghanistan’s innings, amassing 121 runs. Kuldeep Yadav broke this alliance by dismissing Shahidi, who had hit eight fours and a six. Later, Omarzai was dismissed with a score of 41, and Muhammad Nabi followed suit.Despite Afghanistan’s efforts, the Indian bowlers maintained pressure, and none of the subsequent batsmen could make a substantial impact. Najeebullah Sadran and Rashid Khan were among the players who fell, and Mujeeb ur Rehman and Naveen ul Haq remained not out. Shardul and Kuldeep made crucial contributions with one wicket each. Meanwhile, Siraj conceded 76 runs in nine overs but couldn’t secure a wicket. Overall, India’s performance showcased their determination and skill, solidifying their position in the tournament.