Explained: How was Rohit Sharma eligible to bat in 2nd super over?

The third T20I between India and Afghanistan in Bengaluru was one heck of a rollercoaster ride. The game, though being a dead rubber, will go down as one of the most dramatic contests ever played. 

Amidst the carnage of runs, Rohit Sharma's record-breaking century, and a double super over, however, one thing caught the eye. 

How could Rohit come to bat in the second super-over?

What does the rule state?

Afghanistan, batting first in the first super over, set a target of 17 for India. Rohit, who had steered India to 212 in the first innings on the back of his fifth T20I century, came into bat with Yashasvi Jaiswal. After just two runs in the first two balls, Rohit went BANG BANG and hit consecutive sixes.

Then, he took a single off the fifth ball, leaving India needing two more runs. However, right before the last ball, Rohit walked off at the non-striker's end and let in Rinku Singh. Technically, Rohit should have been given retired out.

If that was the case, he couldn't have batted in the second super over. As per the ICC Men's Twenty20 International Playing Conditions, Appendix F, clause 22, "Any batter dismissed in any previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over." 

The batter who remains not out or has been listed among the three and didn't get to bat can come out in the second super over. 

However, Rohit coming down to bat in the second super over meant only one thing. The umpires must have ruled him "retired hurt" or "retired not out." 

Again, to rule him retired hurt, the MCC law 25.4.2 states, "If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as 'Retired - not out'”. 

In this case, Rohit did not suffer any injury or illness. 

However, in clause 25.4.3, the law says, "If a batter retires for any reason other than as in 25.4.2, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain."

Further, in 25.4.4, the law states, "If after retiring a batter resumes his/her innings, subject to the requirements of 25.4.2 and 25.4.3, it shall be only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter." As Rohit resumed his batting after the completion of an innings (super over), he could have taken the consent of the opposing captain, Ibrahim Zadran. 

There is no other possible way that he could have batted in the second super over. 

In the history of T20 cricket, this was only the second time a match was decided through a double super over. The first came in the 2020 Indian Premier League between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians. Eventually, Punjab won. 

Even in the match between Punjab and Mumbai, KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, and Deepak Hooda came out to bat for Punjab. On the other hand, Rohit, Quinton de Kock, and Kieron Pollard were the batters for Mumbai. 

Pooran and Rahul became ineligible for the second super over as they were dismissed. For Mumbai, Quinton couldn't bat. However, Pollard, who came out to bat and remained not out, continued his innings in the second super over as he remained not out. But for Punjab, Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle came out to bat. 

Whether Rohit was "retired out" or "retired not out" or had the consent of the opposing captain, we will only get to know after an official release.