CWC2023: India outplayed Afghanistan as Rohit scored a breathtaking hundred

 

 India was virtually certain to win in Delhi on Wednesday vs Afghanistan.  It was only to be seen how Rohit Sharma's team could win against Rashid and others  who played in the IPL.  Batting first in Delhi, Afghanistan scored 272 runs.  India chased this down with 15 overs to spare with Rohit scoring a dazzling century 

 All eyes were on Virat Kohli in the Delhi match.  Playing at his home ground.  The ground where he started his journey into the Indian team now has a pavilion named after Virat.  But before Virat came down to bat, Rohit took the match in his control   . The Indian captain scored a 63-ball hundred against Afghanistan.  In the murderous mood in which he started the game, it looked as if he will make a huge score . He was playing breathtaking drives , cuts , pulls and flicks with sublime timing and great power which had the fans in absolutely  awe. In the end, Rohit was dismissed for 131 runs off 84 balls in Rashid's googly.  The audience stood up and honoured Rohit . 

  Earlier , Afghanistan captain Hasmatullah Shahidi won the toss and allowed India to bowl.  Dew falls at night in Delhi.  On a pitch with nothing for the bowlers, dew  adds to the problem.  So Rohit was happy to bowl first.   Afghan openers started scoring runs from the very beginning on flat pitch in Delhi.  Mohammad Siraj conceded 28 runs in 4 overs in his first spell.  Jaspreet Bumrah took the first wicket.  After that, Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur picked up one wicket each and Afghanistan lost 3 wickets for 63 runs.  But after that, the Indian bowlers suddenly lost their grip.  Hasmatullah and Azmatullah Omarzai made a partnership of 121 runs.  India could not take their wickets.   In the end, vice-captain Hardik broke the pair.

Afghanistan's innings stopped at 272 runs.  Hasmatullah scored 80 runs.  Azmatullah scored 62 runs.  Afghanistan batted full 50 overs against India.  Bumrah took 4 wickets.  Hardik got two.  Shardul and Kuldeep took one wicket each.  Mohammad Siraj remained a cause for concern.  He gave 76 runs in 9 overs and couldn't take any wicket.  

 Ravichandran Ashwin was not in the Indian team on Wednesday.  Shardul Thakur was taken in his place.  The Delhi pitch had absolutely nothing for the bowlers either pacers or spinners.  And spin is the main weapon of the Afghan team. 

 Afghanistan dreams of winning the match  depended on  Rashid, Mohammad Nabi and Mujibur ul Rahman.  That weapon became blunt in Delhi.  However, in the innings that Rohit played, it would have been difficult for any bowler to stop him.

 Apart from Rohit, Ishan Kishan got runs for India.  He scored 47 runs.  Virat remained unbeaten on 55 runs.  Shreyas scored 25 runs.  The run which Afghanistan took 50 overs was made by the Indian batters in 35 overs. However both Virat and Shreyas slowed down a bit after Rohit was out . Definitely they could have showed a little more urgently to finish the game a little earlier to improve the NRR  further .    However even then India still achieved improved  NRR  by finishing the match in 35 overs.