India VS Afghanistan Played at Dubai International Stadium on 3 November 2021
India 201/2 (Rohit Sharma 74, KL Rahul 69, Hardik Pandya 35*, Rishabh Pant27*)
Afghanistan 144/7 (Karim Jannat 42*, Mohammad Nabi 35, Mohammad Sami3/32, Ravichandra Ashwin 2/14 )
India Won by 66 Runs.
Player of The Match: Rohit Sharma
Languishing almost at the bottom of the table with negative run rate after back-to-back two huge defeats India required a big win by over 60 runs against Afghanistan. They won by 66 runs and had their primacy objective fulfilled.
No team would like to field first on a flat wicket against strong Indian batting line up. But that was what Mohammad Nabi did. Indian openers Rohit and Rahul unleashed and then Punt and Pandya punished. 201/2 was higher than Hindukush that Afghans could scale. They could master 144/7. Indian win by 66 runs put them on board and brought their net run rate into positive.
India has two more games against relatively easier opposition Namibia and Scotland. But the real question is,” Can Afghanistan Deliver For India? Can they beat New Zealand?” If not both India and Afghanistan would have to return home. India would organize better practice facilities for Afghans at Gurgaon ( Afghans home away from home). ICC may not earn enough money from the tournament if India is knocked out of the tournament.
Coming back to the game prolific Rohit and classical Rahul batted superbly in the 140 runs firt wicket partnership matching strokes for stroke. Rohit fell after scoring a magnificent 74 in 47 deliveries strking 8 fours and 3 sixes. Rahul scored 69 off 45. India did not send Kohli at three. Punt and Pandya promoted in the batting order plundered wayward Afghan bowling adding unbroken 63 runs in the 3rd wicket partnership. Indian score of 210/2 is by far the highest score in 2021 world cup. Every sensible person would always question why Nabi let India do that. Afghans batting without pressure could set a target. Against strong India chasing a huge target was always beyond Afghanistan capability.
Afghanistan could score 144/7 playing without much batting plan. India required winning by a margin of 65 to bring their net run rate into positive. Winning by 66 they achieved that. Cricket admirers would always be asking question. Why cricket is not played fairly?
India is a very strong team. They can win and win big against any team. But the manner the match was played yesterday was not fair. What happened to Mujeeb? Can India win like this against Scotland and Namibia as well? Can Afghanistan beat New Zealand? If not India and Afghanistan would fly back home in the same flight.
BDST: 1145 HRS, NOV 4, 2021
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