In a dominant display, India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in their first Super Eight encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The match, held in Barbados, showcased stellar performances from key Indian players, establishing India as a formidable force in the tournament.

Suryakumar Yadav leads the charge

Winning the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat first, aiming to set a challenging total. Despite a shaky start with early wickets, India managed to post a formidable 181 for 8 in 20 overs. The star of the innings was Suryakumar Yadav, who played a blistering knock of 53 off 28 balls. Yadav’s aggressive stroke play under pressure was instrumental in boosting India’s total. His partnership with Hardik Pandya, who contributed a steady 32, added crucial runs to the scoreboard.

Suryakumar Yadav’s remarkable performance in the Super-8 match against Afghanistan, not only guided India to victory but also earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. This accolade marks his 15th Player of the Match award in T20 Internationals, achieved in just 64 matches.

Yadav now shares this impressive record with Virat Kohli, who also has 15 awards but over 120 matches. This milestone places Yadav ahead of notable players like Virandeep Singh (14 awards in 78 matches), Sikandar Raza (14 in 86), and Mohammad Nabi (14 in 126), underscoring his exceptional impact in the T20 format.

India’s middle order faced significant challenges, with Afghanistan’s bowlers, particularly Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi, putting up a strong fight. Rashid Khan took 3 wickets for 26 runs, and Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed 3 for 33, creating hurdles for the Indian batsmen. Despite these setbacks, contributions from Rishabh Pant, who scored a quickfire 20, and Ravindra Jadeja ensured that India did not collapse entirely.

Hardik Pandya’s steady knock

Hardik Pandya played a supportive role, complementing Suryakumar’s aggression with a composed 32. His ability to rotate the strike and hit boundaries at crucial moments helped maintain the run rate and build a solid platform for the team.

Finishing with 181 for 8, India set a challenging target for Afghanistan. This total was a result of timely contributions from the lower order, including some late hits from Jasprit Bumrah, which added valuable runs.

Afghanistan’s chase: Bumrah’s bowling masterclass

Afghanistan’s chase began aggressively, but India’s bowlers quickly took control. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a spectacular spell, taking 3 wickets for just 7 runs in his 4 overs. Bumrah’s lethal yorkers and deceptive slower balls left the Afghan batsmen struggling to score. Arshdeep Singh also claimed 3 wickets, further dismantling Afghanistan’s lineup. Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first match of the tournament, contributed by taking 2 crucial wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling performance was a key factor in India’s victory over Afghanistan in the Super-8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. Bumrah conceded just 7 runs in his full quota of 4 overs, setting a new record for the fewest runs conceded by an Indian bowler in a men’s T20 World Cup match.

This surpasses Arshdeep Singh’s previous record of 9 runs against the USA earlier in the same tournament. Remarkably, only once before has a total exceeding 180 been successfully chased at Kensington Oval, when the Barbados Royals chased down 221 in a night game during the CPL 2023. Bumrah’s economy and precision underlined his pivotal role in India’s formidable bowling attack.

Despite a valiant effort by Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored 26 off 20 balls, Afghanistan could not build momentum. Their batting lineup struggled to form significant partnerships, resulting in a total of 134 all out in 20 overs. The Indian bowlers’ disciplined performance ensured a comprehensive victory for India.

Virat Kohli’s milestone

During the match, Virat Kohli became India’s leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s tally. Kohli, who scored 24 runs off 24 balls, now has 4,066 runs in T20Is, making him the second highest scorer in T20Is globally, just behind Pakistan’s Babar Azam.

Rishabh Pant’s record

Rishabh Pant set a record for the most catches in a T20 World Cup with 10 catches, surpassing previous records held by other notable players. This highlights his exceptional performance as a wicketkeeper in the tournament.

See Also: T20 WC 2024, Super Eight: Warner and Cummins lead Australia to victory against Bangladesh (by DLS) in T20 World Cup

India’s comprehensive victory over Afghanistan by 47 runs in their Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2024 showcased stellar individual performances, particularly from Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. This win solidifies India’s position in the tournament, emphasizing their strength and depth in both batting and bowling departments.