Suryakumar’s quick-fire 53 off 28 balls helped set a challenging total of 181 for 8 on a tricky surface at Kensington Oval after Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan took three key wickets.
Bumrah’s stellar bowling, yielding three wickets for just seven runs in four overs and Kuldeep Yadav’s impactful performance in the middle overs, who took two wickets for 32 runs, restricted Afghanistan to 134 all out.
Skipper Rashid tried his best, claiming three wickets for 26 runs, but Afghanistan’s questionable shot selection hampered their chase.
The defeat extended Afghanistan’s winless streak against India in T20Is.
In the second over of Afghanistan’s innings, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, after hitting a six and four off Arshdeep Singh, went for a rash shot against Bumrah and was caught behind. Hazratullah Zazai, who replaced the injured Mujeeb Zadran, was Bumrah’s next victim, caught at backward point by Ravindra Jadeja.
Playing his first game of the tournament, Kuldeep made his presence felt with a crucial dismissal of Gulbadin Naib in the 11th over.
As It Happened
Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s top scorer with 26 runs off 20 balls.
The fall of wickets through the innings did not allow Afghanistan to get back in the game.
Earlier, Surya displayed his signature nonchalant style, picking boundaries at will while others struggled.
Rishabh Pant contributed a quick 20 off 11 balls and Hardik Pandya added a brisk 32 off 24. Virat Kohli managed 24 off 24, reaching double digits for the first time in this tournament before getting out just as he was settling in.
Rashid had his first successful outing against India, taking crucial wickets in his first three overs. Skipper Rohit Sharmawho scored 8, was dismissed in the third over by Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Rashid, brought himself on right after the Powerplay, dismissed the dangerous Pant in the seventh over. Pant saw some success against spinners with sweeps and reverse sweeps before falling to Rashid.
Kohli’s wicket fell in Rashid’s second over and Shivam Dube was trapped lbw by Rashid after the ball turned sharply.
Suryakumar eased the tension with a flurry of sweeps against Rashid. He then continued to find big hits, including an impressive sweep of a wide full toss from Azmatullah Omarzai and a combination of six and four off Farooqi to reach his half-century.
After Suryakumar’s departure, Hardik Pandya stepped up, hitting a few sixes, including one powerful shot off left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed that nearly shattered a window in the press box.
India’s final total of 181 for 8 was their highest at this historic venue, ultimately proving to be unassailable.
India opted to bat first on a pitch where the ball held up early, making it difficult to play through the line, but they managed to post a solid total.
Points Table | Schedule
Skipper Rohit admitted the pitch was challenging but expressed satisfaction with the total.
India’s bowling unit then delivered a clinical performance to seal the win.
India will face Bangladesh in their next Super 8 fixture in Antigua on Saturday.
