Before facing England in a five-match Test series, India ended their three-match T20 series against Afghanistan on high. They won the series by a 3-0 margin. They played exceptionally well in the whole series but the third match grabbed the attention. To decide the result of the match, the umpire arranged two super-overs. Those moments are rare in cricket. India’s spin sensation Ravichandran Ashwin talked about the thrilling win.
India’s Thrilling Win:
After two consecutive wins, India and Afghanistan met at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the third T20 match. That was a sensational match. While batting first, India lost a few quick wickets, but Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh turned the match. With their excellence, India scored 212/5 at the end of 20 overs. In the second innings, Afghanistan gave a great start. Both the openers scored half-centuries. Gulbadin Naib played an exceptional unbeaten knock of 55 runs. In 20 overs, Afghanistan also scored 212/6. It was a draw.
The match went for a Super-Over. The match didn’t end with the first super-over. Afghanistan put up a strong fight, resulting in another draw. Both teams scored 16, leading to a need for a second super-over. In this round, India batted first. Rohit Sharma scored 11 runs in 3 balls but got run out by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Rinku Singh didn’t score, and Sanju Samson played without adding any runs. Afghanistan managed only 1/2 in response. India won the second super-over by 10 runs, sealing a 3-0 victory over Afghanistan.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Word:
In the 17th over against Afghanistan, Kohli pulled off a jaw-dropping save at long-on. Facing the penultimate ball from Washington Sundar, Karim Janat aimed for a six. The ball headed flat to long-on where Kohli stood. With a remarkable leap, he reached out with his right hand, catching the ball momentarily. However, realizing he might cross the boundary, he swiftly flicked the ball back into play. Kohli’s lightning reflexes and strategic move showcased his brilliance in preventing what seemed like a certain six, leaving spectators in awe of his fielding prowess.
On this matter, Ravichandran Ashwin said, “He flew like Spiderman to save a six and that is the reason the match went into Super Over and eventually India won the match.”
He also praised Kohli’s consistency in the shortest format. He said, “That is why we talk about Virat Kohli so much. He consistently scores at a good average and strike rate in a format that is so inconsistent.”
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