India won the third and final T20I against Afghanistan which was played in Bengaluru on January 17, 2024, to win the series 3-0. The match was the first international to go to double super over.
India was reduced to 22/4 after Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat. But then the skipper played a captain’s knock, scoring 121* in 69 balls with 11 fours and 8 sixes. He added 190* runs for the 5th wicket with Rinku Singh, who made 69* with 6 sixes and 2 fours to his name as India posted 212/4 in 20 overs.
Afghanistan then leveled the score with half-centuries from Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Gulbadin Naib. The two sides scored 16 runs each in the first Super Over. However, India clinched the match after scoring 11 in the second Super Over and bowling the visitors out for just 1 run.
During the first super over, a controversial moment happened. Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi ran three runs after being hit on his pads by India wicket-keeper Sanju Samson. While running the first single, the ball hit Nabi on the pads and deflected to Virat Kohli at long-on.
This led to Rohit Sharma having an intense argument with the umpires and even Mohammad Nabi. Virat Kohli also showed his displeasure while stopping the ball.
Reacting to the same, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra said India was wrong in complaining about the spirit of the game in the Super Over. Afghanistan ended up scoring 16 runs in the first Super Over following the overthrow.
“A bye was taken off the last ball. Sanju Samson threw the ball, it hit Nabi's leg and they ran two extra runs. One was available and India gave one because they were complaining about the spirit of the game. India were wrong in complaining. You could have restricted them to two runs and you conceded a third just like that,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
"My question is, assuming had it been the last ball of a World Cup final and the extra run you were getting after the ball hit the pads was deciding the match, would anyone not run there? Would anyone be ready to lose the World Cup by not taking that run because it is ethically incorrect? Everyone would have run," Chopra explained.
This was India’s 6th win in 6 T20Is against Afghanistan.
