Rohit and Rinku added 190* runs for 5th wicket, the highest partnership by India in T20Is.
India and Afghanistan are clashing in the third and final T20I on January 17, 2024. This match is being played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, and India currently leads the series 2-0.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first. Akshar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Jitesh Sharma were benched from the India XI, while Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, and Avesh Khan were added.
India didn't have the best of starts, losing four wickets for 22 runs in the powerplay with Yashasvi Jaiswal getting four and Shivam Dube scoring one run, while Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson were out for golden ducks.
Then Rohit Sharma, coming off two consecutive ducks, shouldered the run-making responsibility and got an able partner in Rinku Singh. Together, they added 190 runs for the 5th wicket with Rinku Singh making 69* in 39 balls with 2 fours and 6 sixes.
IND v AFG 2024: WATCH- Rohit Sharma’s switch-hit attempts result in a six and a four
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, made 121* in 69 balls with 11 fours and 8 sixes. This was his 5th T20I century, making him the batter with most centuries in the format. This was also his highest T20I score.
The duo added 103 runs in the last 5 overs in their partnership of 190* for the 5th wicket. However, the encore came in the 20th over bowled by Karim Janat, which went for 36 runs.
Rohit Sharma started with a four on the first ball and then a no-ball went for a six. The free-hit was also launched over the boundary by Rohit Sharma, followed by a single off the third ball.
Rinku Singh faced the last three balls of the over and hit three consecutive sixes as Janat had no idea where to bowl on the Bengaluru pitch.
This was the third instance of 36 runs being scored in an over in T20Is after Yuvraj Singh against Stuart Broad in 2007 and Kieron Pollard against Akila Dananjaya in 2021.
Here is the video of the last over of the Indian innings: