India won the third and final T20I against Afghanistan after a thrilling battle that saw two super overs bowled at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. With this, the Men in Blue have secured a 3-0 series win. Skipper Rohit Sharma now holds the record for the most T20I wins (42) as India’s captain in men’s cricket.
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After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India were reduced to just 22/4 in the first powerplay. However, Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh emerged as saviors, forming a magical partnership. Rohit’s masterclass led to his fifth T20I century, an unbeaten 121 off 69 balls. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh played a supporting role with an unbeaten 69 off only 39 balls. Their exceptional 190-run partnership propelled India to a commanding total of 212/4 in 20 overs.
Rohit Sharma 🤝 Rinku Singh
OuR’RR’ 😎 💪#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @ImRo45 | @rinkusingh235 pic.twitter.com/SfKSl07JoE
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024
Rohit’s fifth T20I century elevated him to the top of the centuries list in the format, surpassing players like Glenn Maxwell and Suryakumar Yadav. The innings marked Rohit’s highest T20I score and the fourth-highest individual score for India in T20Is.
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The partnership between Rohit and Rinku became the highest for India in T20Is, surpassing the previous milestone of 176 runs. India set a new benchmark by amassing 58 runs in the last two overs, breaking records for the most runs scored by any team in the 19th and 20th overs in all men’s T20s.
In a remarkable 20th over bowled by Karim Janat, Rohit and Rinku plundered 36 runs. They equalled the record for the most runs conceded in an over in men’s T20Is.
Rohit Sharma hit three of his five T20I centuries while captaining India. Rinku Singh smashed an unbeaten 69, setting a new record for the highest score by an Indian in the number six position in T20Is. Singh surpassed Axar Patel’s previous achievement.
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Rohit oldest player from Test-playing nation to score T20I century
At 36 years and 262 days, Rohit became the oldest player from a Test-playing nation to score a T20I century. India successfully defended 11 runs in a historic second super over, with Ravi Bishnoi’s exceptional spell, including two wickets in three balls, sealing India’s victory and breaking Afghanistan’s resilient spirit. India clinched the series 3-0 in a match filled with extraordinary moments and record-breaking performances.
