India kept their World Cup hopes alive with a resounding win over a hopeless Afghanistan side that didn’t turn up for the occasion as expected.
Going against their usual strategy and choosing to bowl first Afghanistan couldn’t contain a resurgent Indian batting.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul played an attacking brand of cricket missing from their first two matches. Rohit Sharma in particular looked devastating and was in his best touch. Usually threatening Afghan spinners had no answers to the motivating Indian openers.
Rohit Sharma was the first wicket to fell in the 15th over with the score 144, scoring 74 of 47 balls.
KL Rahul also looked back to his best scoring 69 of 48 balls, with India posting a huge 210/2 in 20 overs.
Afghanistan went for the target straightway but failed to build anything threatening, wickets kept falling at regular intervals, with India playing like a side looking renewed.
Only captain Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat ensuring Afghanistan don’t totally collapse. Afghanistan at the end could only manage 144/7 in their 20 overs giving India a first win of the T20 World Cup and with it hope of still making it to the semi finals.
With this performance India showed that they are still alive and kicking in the event and if a result of two go in their favour things will get interesting.