India vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I Match Summary

Rohit Sharma now goes on to collect the series victory trophy and then hands it over to the youngsters as the entire team celebrates and rejoices. Right then, that is it from this game and from this series as well, India have won 3-0 and remain unbeaten against Afghanistan in senior international matches. For India, the action now moves back to red-ball cricket as they are done with white-ball cricket till the T20 World Cup in June. They will welcome England for a five-match Test series beginning on 25th January. As for Afghanistan, they will now travel to Sri Lanka for an all-format tour beginning with the only Test match on 2nd February. You can switch tabs and check all future fixtures. Hopefully, you enjoyed our coverage. Until next time then, take care and goodbye!

The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma is the Player of the Match for his sensational ton and exploits in the Super Overs as well. He starts by saying that it was in the Indian T20 League where he got to bat in both the super overs. Says that the plan was to not losing the intent and play natural game. Creating partnerships was important and that they kept talking to each other to not lose that intent in big games. Adds that it's important to show up in such pressure conditions and the boys did pretty well to do so. Further says that he is trying to constantly improve on his game and is getting better and will do well in the coming games. Lauds Rinku Singh and says that he has been batting really well and that he is consistently accumulating runs for the team which is a good sign. Then he lauds Shivam Dube for his scintilliating batting and says that he has improved with the time and is a special batter. Says that he has got a bright future ahead. He then says that he is glad that they ended up on the winning side. Ends up by saying that they have an important Test series coming up and it's a quick turnaround for them so they need to be focused and not get carried away

Shivam Dube is the Player of the Series for his contribution with both bat and ball. He says that as an all-rounder, you always hope to be getting this award and is happy that he is getting it for the first time in his life. Adds that they did well to put 200 plus on the board and Afghanistan batted really well too and they didn't think it would go as deep as the Super Over but that happens. Ends by saying that it is always good to get an opportunity with the ball and he is happy to have bowled in this series.

Ibrahim Zadran, the captain of Afghanistan says that it was a tough match but they are happy to play good cricket and that they have a lot of positives to look upon. Says that it is unfortunate that they lost the super over. He says that they never played this kind of cricket and that they have improved immensely and worked really hard. Further says that they have Sri Lanka series lined up next and expect to be a good series. Says that they are batting really well and need to improve in the bowling department. Ends up by saying that all the boys gave their best but India came out as the best side.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first looking to challenge his team and they certainly were challenged as they were reduced to 22/4 thanks to some sensational bowling by Fareed Ahmad. Afghanistan failed to press on and allowed India back in the game after which Rohit Sharma simply went into God mode and struck a brilliant unbeaten 121 off just 69 balls and Rinku Singh too got a half-century and helped India get to 212 runs. Also, the final over bowled by Karim Janat went for 36 runs which did prove to be decisive in the context of the game. After the game was tied, Afghanistan came out and put on 16 runs in the first Super Over but two of those runs were a bit controversial as the throw deflected off Nabi's boot and the Indians stood still as Nabi then took another extra run. In reply, India too managed to get to 16 runs as Azmatullah Omarzai held his nerve on the final delivery and we went into a second Super Over. India scored 11 runs after losing two wickets in two balls and then Afghanistan just couldn't apply themselves and lost both wickets for just one run.

Ravi Bishnoi, the man of the moment is down for a quick chat. He says that he had the experience to play the double super over so he had his nerves settled. He adds that the plan was simple, to pitch the ball on the back of a length and hold on to the stump line as possible and he is happy that he executed it perfectly. Says that feels proud to be restricting the opposition in the super over. He says that bowling in the Ranji Trophy has helped him a lot to garner positive results. Ends up saying that he is enjoying playing for his country and will do the needful in the future as well.

India will be mightily relieved as they will feel, they should have got the job done in the 20 overs but they were sloppy with the ball in the death overs. Mukesh Kumar was economical first up but through the middle phase, the spinners were put away for runs and the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi seemed ineffective. Washington Sundar bowled well and picked up three wickets, also bowling a crucial over at the death after which Avesh Khan got belted for runs and even Mukesh was hit for 18 runs in the final over, taking the game into Super Over. Bishnoi redeemed himself brilliantly by bowling the final over in Super Over and picked up two quick wickets to seal the game.

Chasing 213 to win in normal time, Afghanistan got a steady platform by their openers as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran both stayed watchful and then started to fire. They were 85/0 at the end of 10 overs which was good but not nearly enough. Soon, they started to play their shots but both openers got out after reaching their half-centuries. The likes of Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib then provided a second wind to their side with Naib staying on until the end and ensuring his side didn't lose and the game went into overtime. However, the same could not be replicated in the second Super Over and they fell agonizingly short of their first win against India in T20I.

Wow, one of the all-time great T20I matches we will ever see and it is utter heartbreak for the Afghans as they have fallen short in the end by 10 runs. The game ebbed and flowed and the crowd got much more than their money's worth as the home team, India eventually whitewashed Afghanistan 3-0.

OUT! CAUGHT! Game over! The combination of Ravi Bishnoi and Rinku Singh working in-tandem as Rahmanullah Gurbaz holes out. This is bowled flat and full around off stump, Gurbaz doesn't get much room to free his arms and hits through the line of the ball, sending it straight down the throat of long off. Rinku makes no mistake and INDIA WIN BY 10 RUNS IN SUPER OVER-2!

Full and outside off, driven straight to covers for a single.

Karim Janat is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! What a decision to opt for Ravi Bishnoi and Mohammad Nabi departs first ball. Bishnoi drags it down a bit and over middle stump. Nabi rocks back and it is there to be hit but Nabi misvues the pull and ends up splicing it down the ground. Rinku Singh takes a simple catch around long off and Afghanistan still need 12 runs off 5 deliveries and have one wicket in hand.