India chased down Afghanistan's target of 273 with 15 overs to spare.
Riding on Jasprit Bumrah’s four-wicket haul (4/39), India restricted Afghanistan to 272/8 in 50 overs after being asked to bowl first.
Chasing the target, India skipper Rohit Sharma took the Afghanistan bowling attack to the cleaners, smashing a century in just 63 balls – the fastest by an Indian batter in World Cup history.
Rohit added 156 runs for the opening wicket with Ishan Kishan (47) and followed it with a 49-run partnership with Virat Kohli. After the dismissal of the Indian captain on 131 off 84 balls, Kohli (55*) and Shreyas Iyer (25*) completed the formalities and took the hosts over the line with 15 overs to spare.
While the win boosted India’s net run-rate significantly, Bumrah denied after the game that it was their plan to finish the chase as early as 90 balls remaining in the innings.
Net run-rate could come into the picture later in the tournament, but Bumrah said they are not thinking about it so early in the tournament.
"Not at all. We are not looking at it from the beginning (of the tournament). (Besides) we did not know that Rohit will give us such a head start," Bumrah told reporters.
"I don't think we had any such conversation so early in the tournament. Really happy the way the game went and we finished it off."
Bumrah, who produced a stunning spell on a placid Delhi pitch, attributed his success to preparation and following the process in the right way.
"Look, I'm not result-oriented. Just because I've taken four wickets that doesn't mean I'm very, very happy or I've done something extraordinary," he said.
"I just go with my preparation. I go with the processes that I feel are right. I try to read the wicked and try to find the best answers."
India’s next World Cup match is scheduled against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday (October 14).
(With Reuters Inputs)