Afghanistan disappointed; Kohli-led India triumph

India made a couple of (Ravi)chan(dran)ges to their playing eleven – Ishan Kishan and Varun Chakravarthy made way for Suryakumar Yadav and Ashwin.

Afghanistan made seven changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Nawroz Mangal, Karim Sadiq, Asghar Afghan, Samiullah Shinwari, Shafiqullah, and the Zadrans (Dawlat and Shapoor) made way for Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Naveen-ul-Haq and Hamid Hassan.

On winning the toss, Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan’s skipper, chose to field.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the sixth over. They scored 53, without the loss of a wicket.

India’s openers put on 50 off five overs (31 balls). Afghanistan had conceded an extra at that point. While Lokesh Rahul’s contribution to the partnership was 17, the contribution of Rohit, the player of the (Shar)match, to it was 34.

Thirty-four balls (5.3 overs) into the match, Afghanistan sought a bowling review. Sharma was the batsman. It was struck down by Australian umpire Paul Reiffel.

Sharma’s half-century – which included seven boundaries and a six – came off 37 balls.

India’s openers put on 100 off 11.4 overs (71 balls). Afghanistan had conceded an extra at that point. While Rahul’s contribution to the partnership was 47, Sharma’s contribution to it was 54.

Rahul’s half-century – which included four boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 35 balls.

Sharma, whose 47-ball innings included eight boundaries and three sixes, eventually scored 74. Eighty-nine balls into the match, he was caught by Nabi. Janat broke the 140-run partnership.

Rahul, whose 48-ball (Gulbad)innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, in addition to the aforementioned number of sixes, eventually scored 69. Eleven balls later, Naib had a reason to be in seventh heaven.

Ninety-four balls (15.3 overs) into the match, Afghanistan sought a bowling review. Rishabh Pant was the batsman. It was struck down by Reiffel.

The next ball, India sought a batting review. Pant was the batsman. It was upheld by Reiffel.

India scored 150 off 16.5 overs (102 balls). Afghanistan had conceded an extra at that point.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 16 balls. While Pant’s contribution to the partnership was 18, Hardik Pandya’s contribution to it was 31. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

India scored 200 off 19.2 overs (117 balls). Afghanistan had conceded three extras at that point.

Pant, whose 27-ball innings included a boundary and three sixes, eventually scored 27. He was unbeaten, as was Pandya, who eventually scored 35 off 13 balls, which included four boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Afghanistan eventually conceded five extras. India scored 210 for the loss of a couple of wickets off 20 overs.

Nabi, who bowled an over, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he was wicketless.

Ashraf, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded 25.

Naveen, Rashid and Hassan bowled four wicketless overs apiece. They conceded 59, 36, and 34, respectively.

Janat, who bowled an over, had a reason to be in seventh heaven – he picked up a wicket, as did Naib, who bowled four overs, conceding 39.

The first Powerplay of Afghanistan’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the sixth over. They scored 47, and lost a couple of wickets.

Mohammad Shahzad, who faced four balls, failed to get off the mark. Three overs into the chase, he was caught by Ashwin. Mohammed Shami broke the 13-run stand.

The second-wicket pair failed to get off the mark. Zazai, whose 15-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 13. The next ball, he was caught by Shardul Thakur off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah.

Gurbaz, whose 10-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes, scored 19. Twenty-two balls later, he was caught by Ravindra Jadeja. Pandya broke the 35-run stand.

Afghanistan scored 50 off 7.2 overs (44 balls). India hadn’t conceded any extras at that point.

Naib, whose 20-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 18. Sixteen balls after Gurbaz’s dismissal, he was trapped leg before wicket by Ashwin, who broke the 11-run stand.

It was at that point that the drinks break was taken. Afghanistan had scored 59 for the loss of four wickets. Najibullah Zadran was batting on nine.

Najibullah, whose 13-ball innings included a six, scored 11. Fourteen balls after Naib’s dismissal, Ashwin broke the 10-run stand.

Afghanistan scored 100 off 16.1 overs (97 balls). India had conceded an extra at that point.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 50 off 34 balls. While Nabi’s contribution to the partnership was 25, Janat’s contribution to it was 24. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

Nabi, whose 32-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, eventually scored 35. Thirty-eight balls after Najibullah’s dismissal, he was caught by Jadeja. Shami broke the 57-run partnership.

Janat, whose 22-ball innings included three boundaries and a couple of sixes, eventually scored 42. He was unbeaten.

Rashid, who faced a ball, did not get off the mark. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Pandya. Shami broke the one-run stand.

Ashraf, who faced three balls, scored a couple. He was unbeaten.

India eventually conceded four overs. Afghanistan, who scored 144 for the loss of seven wickets off 20 overs, lost by 67 runs.

Pandya, who bowled a couple of overs, conceded 23. He was wicketless, as was Thakur, who bowled three overs, conceding 31.

Jadeja, who bowled three overs, conceded 19. He picked up a wicket, as did Bumrah, who bowled four overs, conceding 25.

Ashwin bowled four overs, including a maiden. He conceded 14, picking up a couple of wickets.

Shami, who bowled four overs, conceded 32. He picked up three scalps.