RECAP
Follow UsUnproductive start from Rohit, Kohli
India opted to bat first in Barbados but had an unproductive start. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled on a slow pitch. Rohit was out for 8 from 13 balls trying to slog Fazalhaq Farooqi in the third over. Kohli batted longer but was eventually holed out at long-off for 24 off 24.
Rashid’s impact in the middle
Just when Rishabh Pant was finding his rhythm, Rashid Khan pinned him in front of the stumps for 20 off 11 balls. The leg-spinner snapped two more wickets, overall taking 3/26 and hampering India in the middle overs. This is the first time he has been in the wickets’ column against India in T20Is.
Surya shines
Suryakumar Yadav kept India going during the tricky phase. He used the sweep shot to perfection, especially against Rashid, scoring 16 runs off six balls against him. Overall, Surya scored 53 off 28 balls. He was the only batter to score more than 40 on either side, thus creating the difference in the game. He was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Bumrah’s economical spell
Nothing new here. Jasprit Bumrah was as effective as ever, taking three wickets for seven runs, including a maiden. He dismissed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, and Najibullah Zadran. Bumrah’s figures of 3/7 are his best in T20I cricket.
Afghanistan never in the chase
Gurbaz began the run chase with a couple of boundaries. However, Afghanistan were never in the chase from the moment Bumrah dismissed the wicketkeeper-batter in the second over of the chase. Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai added 44 runs for the fourth wicket but Afghanistan never threatened to touch the asking rate. Consequently, they were bowled out for 134 with every Indian frontline bowler among the wickets.
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