T20 World Cup: Top moments from India’s batting vs Afghanistan

Indian batsmen fired the team to a 66-run win over Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Riding on half-centuries by Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and some late-hitting by Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli and company posted a mammoth 210-run target. The bowlers then managed to restrict the Afghans to 144 runs, keeping the side’s semifinals hopes alive. 

  Also read: T20 World Cup: Probable reasons why Kohli did not bat vs Afghanistan

Here are the top moments from India’s batting: 

1) Rishabh Pant’s one-handed six:

In the fifth delivery of the 17th over, Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant smoked Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib for a one-handed six over the straight boundary. 

Pant, then followed it up with another maximum, this time with both the hands, over long-off. The two sixes gave momentum to the 24-year-old’s innings as he went on to score 27 runs off 13 balls with the help of three sixes and one four.

  Also read: Rohit Sharma vs Rashid Khan battle: Indian opener comes out on top

2) Hardik Pandya and Mohammad Shahzad’s collision:

In the 19th over of the first innings, India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya collided with Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad. On the first ball of the over, Pandya’s attempt to clear the long-off boundary resulted in a top-edge as the ball skied towards Najibullah Zadran at mid-off.  The fielder dropped the catch, which allowed a second run. However, Hardik Pandya and Mohammad Shahzad, who was trying to receive the throw, collided. There was a brief break, post which the game resumed. 

3) Rohit vs Rashid battle

Indian opener Rohit Sharma came on top of his match-up battle with star Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Rohit hit Khan for two sixes in his third over.

The battle was a highlight as Rashid Khan, prior to the game, had dismissed Sharma twice, conceding 19 runs in 16 balls. 

Sharma scored 74 off 47 balls as he put up a record 140 runs opening partnership with KL Rahul (69 off 48 balls). 

  Also read: How India can still qualify for T20 World Cup 2021 semifinals

Rashid finished the match with figures of 36/0 in his four overs. This was his most expensive bowling stat in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

4) Virat holding himself back

With all the questions surrounding the team’s batting lineup, Virat Kohli took a decision that raised a few eyebrows. After India had gotten off to a flying start and openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul had set a platform for the incoming batsmen to build on, Kohli, arguably the best batsman in the team, held himself, promoting Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya. The move worked. Pandya and Pant shared a quickfire 50 plus stand and boosted India’s total to 210 runs.