Team India rode on Suryakumar Yadav's back-to-back fifties and Jasprit Bumrah's economical spell powered India to an emphatic 47-run win over Afghanistan to kick off their T20 World Cup's Super 8 campaign in style on June 20. Playing at at the Kensington Oval Barbados, India posted a challenging total of 181/8, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav's blistering 53 off 28 and Hardik Pandya's late blitz of 32 off 24. In reply, Afghanistan failed to negotiate India's disciplined bowling attack and were bundled out for a paltry 134.
India crush Afghanistan in Super 8 opener
India's clinical display served as a masterclass in handling challenging Caribbean conditions, especially with the World Cup final set to be played at the same venue, Kensington Oval, in Barbados. Having navigated some tricky pitches in New York during the group stage, this victory undoubtedly boosted India's confidence. They extended their unbeaten record against Afghanistan to a perfect 8-0, solidifying their position at the top of Group 1 in the Super 8s.
Clinical Batting and Bowling Seal the Deal for India
India set a competitive total of 181 runs, exceeding expectations on a pitch that wasn't the easiest for batsmen. Their bowling attack, expertly marshaled by captain Rohit Sharma, proved equally impressive. Jasprit Bumrah stole the show with a stellar spell, taking three wickets for just seven runs in his four overs. The decision to include an extra spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, paid off as the trio of Kuldeep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel combined for four wickets.
Afghanistan Falter Under Pressure Despite a quick start from Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over, Afghanistan's hopes were dashed by Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance. Bumrah outsmarted Gurbaz with a slower delivery, forcing him to edge the ball to the wicketkeeper.
A missed chance by Virat Kohli, dropping Ibrahim Zadran on 1, proved inconsequential as Axar Patel dismissed him shortly after. Bumrah continued his rampage, picking up the dangerous Hazratullah Zazai in his next over. With Afghanistan restricted to a meager 35 runs for 3 wickets after 6 overs, the match was effectively sealed in India's favor. Afghanistan couldn't recover from there and kept losing wickets in regular interval and eventually got reduced to 134. Azmatullah Omarzai remained the top scorer for Afghans as he scored 26 off 20. For India the wrecker in chief was Bumrah, who bowled his best ever spell in T20 World Cup i.e 3/7. Arshdeep Singh too chipped in with a three-fer in India's win.
Suryakumar Yadav burns bright to power India to strong total
Earlier, The much-anticipated clash between India and Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup Super 8s saw a contrasting performance from both teams' star players. Rashid Khan, who previously struggled against India, took early wickets in his first three overs, putting pressure on the Indian batting line-up.
India's Top Order Falters
Opting to bat first, India faced initial challenges due to the slow pitch at Kensington Oval. Captain Rohit Sharma's attempt to accelerate the scoring rate proved costly, as he was caught at mid-on. Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive batting, briefly entertained the crowd with his sweeps and reverse sweeps against the spinners before getting dismissed by Rashid. Virat Kohli, finally reaching double digits in the tournament, fell just as he appeared to be settling in.
Suryakumar steadies India's boat
After Kohli's dismissal, the onus fell on Suryakumar Yadav to revive the Indian innings. He did just that, showcasing his trademark nonchalant style. Unlike other batters who struggled on the slow track, Yadav found the boundaries with ease, particularly against Rashid Khan with a flurry of sweeps. His brilliant fifty, including an outrageous whipped shot over deep square-leg and boundaries off Farooqi, brought much-needed stability to the Indian scorecard.
Hardik Pandya Finishes Strong
Following Yadav's departure, Hardik Pandya took center stage. He displayed his power-hitting prowess, launching a straight six off Noor Ahmed that nearly shattered the press box window. Together, Yadav and Pandya ensured India posted their highest total at the historic Kensington Oval, reaching a competitive 181 for 8 wickets.
India will now face Bangladesh on June 22 in their next Super 8 clash. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will take on Australia on June 23.
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