Chinnaswamy Thriller: India Defeats Afghanistan in Super Over Drama

Wow, this was something no one expected: two super overs in a 20-over thriller of a match that got decided after 44 overs at Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru. This is the reason people love T20 cricket. In the 22/4 scenario, India lost 4 wickets in the power play, and Rohit Sharma was left standing alone, watching wickets fall from the other side.

Then, Rohit Sharma started alongside the striker Rinku Singh. Together, Rohit and Rinku initially built the innings, and then a boundary storm hit Bangalore as they forged a 190-run partnership, setting a new record for the highest T20I partnership for India. Before this, Virat and Hardik held the top spot with a 113-run partnership. It was a treat to watch both Rinku Singh and Rohit Sharma, especially in the 5 overs where they scored 100-plus runs, something we don’t usually see in any form of cricket.

India finished their innings and posted a score of 212/4 in 20 overs at Bangalore. Considering grounds like Chinnaswamy, where such scores are expected to be chased, Afghanistan tried every possible way to reach the target, especially after a 93-run partnership between Gurbaaz and Zadran. Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Nabi played fantastic knocks of 55 (23) and 34 (16) respectively, almost making it seem like they were taking the game away from India.

In the last over, Afghanistan needed 19 runs, and Mukesh’s first three balls once again favored the Afghan batters. However, the game took a turn in the last 2 balls, where everything happened. Afghanistan needed 5 runs in 2 balls, and they managed to run two. Then, 3 runs were required on the last ball. And a twist came they couldn’t get a boundary. Nevertheless, they managed to get 2 runs again off the last ball, leading to the first super over in the game.

Again, they came to bat in a super over, and for India, it was Mukesh Kumar who was bowling once again. On the first ball, he delivered a perfect yorker. Naib played it towards long-on but made a wrong choice by attempting two runs. Kohli’s quick arm threw the ball to the keeper, giving India the first breakthrough by sending Naib to the pavilion. Then, Nabi’s show started for a few deliveries, helping Afghanistan make 16 runs in the super over.

When India came to bat, Rohit Sharma took the stride, and on the 3rd ball of the super over, he smashed the ball for a six, and on the 4th ball, he sent it through long-off for another six. It’s always amazing to watch him bat with that flow. However, the story got twisted when India needed 2 runs on the last ball. Rohit played a tactical game and sent in a batter who ran faster than him, so Rinku Singh came, and Jaiswal was on strike. The ball missed his bat and went to wicketkeeper Gurbaaz, but still, they ran and got 1 run, and the match again ended in a tie.

This brought us to the second over, where the Indian team made 11 runs thanks to Rohit Sharma once again. With 11 runs to chase in 6 balls, it looked really easy for viewers from outside, as it seemed a chaseable target for Afghanistan. But, Ravi Bishnoi made sure they didn’t give any chances,On the first ball of the over, he got Mohammad Nabi at long-off, caught by Rinku. Then, with Gurbaaz on strike, he was caught by Rinku at long-off, and with this, India clinched the match and also clean-swept the series.

It was really a thriller that we all witnessed in Chinnaswamy Stadium.

It was a really great game to watch, especially against a team like Afghanistan, who always look to upset big teams. It's right to say that they almost pulled off an upset today. But in the end, Team India cleaned up the series with new finds like Shivam Dube, who has a great responsibility on his shoulders as far as T20Is for India are concerned.

It was a really great game to watch, especially against a team like Afghanistan, who always looks to upset big teams. It’s right to say that they almost pulled off an upset today. But in the end, Team India cleaned up the series with new finds like Shivam Dube, who has a great responsibility on his shoulders as far as T20Is for India are concerned.