In a nail-biting encounter between India and Afghanistan in the 3rd T20I, spectators were treated to a roller-coaster of emotions as the match unfolded with unprecedented twists and turns. Initially, it appeared as though India had the upper hand, successfully defending a target of 213 with the dismissals of both Afghan openers. However, Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib orchestrated a sensational fightback, forcing the match into uncharted territory.
Nabi’s departure for 34 off 16 marked the end of a blazing 56-run partnership with Gulbadin in just 22 balls. Gulbadin, however, displayed remarkable resilience, finishing unbeaten on 55 off 23, guiding Afghanistan to a tie and pushing the game into a thrilling Super Over. The drama continued as both teams scored 16 runs in the first Super Over, leading to a rare occurrence of a second Super Over.
In the decisive moments, India posted 11 runs, losing two wickets in the second Super Over. Despite needing 12 runs for their historic T20I win against India, Afghanistan managed only one run and lost two wickets, securing India’s victory in a gripping showdown.
The high-octane clash also saw a stellar performance from India’s batting duo, Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh, who orchestrated a remarkable turnaround after a shaky start. Weathering early blows, they eventually unleashed a brutal assault in the death overs, with Rohit notching up his fifth T20I century (121 off 69 balls) and Rinku contributing a blazing 69 off 39. Their unbeaten partnership of 190 off 95 balls propelled India to a formidable total of 212/4 in 20 overs, setting the stage for an unforgettable contest.