India showcased their dominance in the T20 World Cup 2024 with a convincing 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their first Super Eight clash. This win not only solidifies India’s position in the tournament but also highlights some stellar individual performances, notably from Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.

India’s batting performance

Winning the toss, Rohit Sharma opted to bat first, a decision aimed at setting a challenging total. However, India’s start was shaky, losing early wickets and struggling to build momentum.

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Suryakumar Yadav, fondly known as SKY, turned the tide with a blistering 53 off 28 balls. His aggressive stroke play and confidence under pressure were instrumental in pushing India to a competitive total. His partnership with Hardik Pandya was crucial, adding 60 runs and stabilizing the innings.

Middle order challenges

India’s middle order faced significant challenges, with Rashid Khan (3 for 26) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3 for 33) wreaking havoc. Despite these setbacks, contributions from other batsmen like Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja ensured the team didn’t collapse entirely.

Hardik Pandya played a supportive role with a steady knock, complementing Suryakumar’s aggression. His ability to rotate the strike and hit the occasional boundary helped maintain the run rate and build a solid platform.

India’s Total: 181 for 8

Finishing with 181 for 8 in 20 overs, India set a formidable target. This score was a result of timely contributions from the lower order, including some late hits from Jasprit Bumrah, which added valuable runs.

Afghanistan’s Chase

Afghanistan’s chase began aggressively with Gurbaz hitting a four and a six in the first over. However, Bumrah’s early breakthrough, removing Gurbaz, set the tone for India’s bowling dominance.

Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling masterclass

Jasprit Bumrah’s spell was nothing short of spectacular. His figures of 3 for 7 in four overs dismantled Afghanistan’s top order. Bumrah’s lethal yorkers and deceptive slower balls left the Afghan batsmen struggling to score.

Axar Patel and other bowlers supported Bumrah well, maintaining tight lines and taking crucial wickets. Poor luck for Arshdeep Singh, as he missed his hat-trick by a narrow margin, but he bagged three important wickets. Kuldeep, playing his first match of this tournament, also bagged two crucial wickets.

Afghanistan’s struggles

Afghanistan’s batting lineup struggled to form any significant partnerships. Naib and Omarzai attempted to stabilize the innings, but once Naib fell, the rest of the lineup quickly crumbled. The team managed only 134 runs, falling 47 runs short of the target.

Player of the Match: Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav, Player of the Match: I think there’s a lot of hardwork, there are a lot of processes and routine involved in it. I am clear in my mind what I want to do. I don’t mind giving this Player of the Match to a bowler. First time it’s going to a batter (from India in this tournament), I don’t mind. I think you just need to know your game plan, and just play accordingly. I still remember when Hardik came in to the bat, I told him let’s bat with the same intent. Let’s keep pressing the pedal and keep pushing, in the end very happy with a score of 180.

Most consecutive wins for India in T20Is
12 bw Nov 2021 & Feb 2022
9 bw Jan 2020 & Dec 2020
8 bw Dec 2023 & June 2024*

All ten batters out caught in an innings in T20 WCs
Afg vs Eng Perth 2022
Afg vs Ind Bridgetown 2024