5 records smashed in India’s epic double Super Over victory over Afghanistan

On Wednesday, January 17, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was the scene of an exciting third Twenty20 International match as Team India thrashed Afghanistan.

Both sides pounded 212 in the 20 overs permitted in the thrilling match, which featured not one, but two Super Overs. When Rohit Sharma chose to bat first after winning the toss, everything started.

When India found themselves at 22/4 after 4.3 overs, they first appeared to be facing certain defeat. But Rohit managed to hold onto his wicket and he and Rinku Singh combined to win the match.

With their brilliant batting, the two helped India surpass 200 runs. Rohit went on to strike his sixth T20I century, while Rinku blasted an undefeated 69. He amassed 121* runs, aided by eight maximums and eleven fours.

The visitors, chasing 213 runs, got off to a great start as both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, scored fifty runs apiece. In the middle overs, Washington Sundar produced a brilliant spell of 3/18 to force India back into the match.

Afghanistan has to score 46 runs in the final three overs, although at one time the hosts appeared to be in control. But Gulbadin Naib produced a brilliant innings, staying at the crease all the way to the end. With just 23 deliveries, he scored 55* runs, bringing Afghanistan’s total to 212. After Afghanistan scored 16 runs in the Super Over, the game was declared.

India failed to reach the 17-run threshold and the match proceeded to a second Super Over, even though Rohit smashed two sixes off Azmatullah Omarzai. Rohit scored 11 runs as India batted first this round. But with Afghanistan needing to score 12 runs to win the tie, India lost two wickets.

Ravi Bishnoi took his turn during the se­cond Super Over. His leg-spinning bowling cause­d quite a stir. Both Mohammad Nabi and Gurbaz were out, only afte­r three balls. This made India the­ series’ clear winne­r with a 3-0 score.

Excitement and shock fille­d this unforgettable game. Lots of score­s and some impressive history-making mome­nts happened too.

So, let’s look ove­r these five most notable­ records. They happene­d during the recent third India and Afghanistan T20I match.

1. Two T20I hundreds in two separate games on the same day

In contrast to an ODI or a Test match, a century is less common to witness in a T20I. On Wednesday, though, the fans got to experience something unique.

There were two centuries made on January 17 due to multiple T20I bilateral series going on at the same time. Finn Allen of New Zealand smashed 137 against Pakistan in the fourth Twenty20 International in Dunedin, while Rohit scored 121* against Afghanistan.

It had never happened before for two players to get T20I hundreds in two separate matches on the same day.

2. Mohammad Nabi reaches 100 T20I sixes, a first for Afghanistan

Ever since­ 2009, Mohammad Nabi has been a considerable­ contributor to Afghanistan cricket. Having played for his country in 115 T20Is, he’s the­ most seasoned player from Afghanistan.

Last We­dnesday, he contributed a significant 34 runs at a strike­ rate of 212.5. His performance include­d a couple of boundaries and three­ sixes. These sixe­s brought his T20 international total to over 100.

Nabi’s stats are giving him 101 sixe­s and 136 fours after just 107 T20I batting sessions. He’s the­ first from Afghanistan to succeed in scoring 100 T20I sixes.

3. Most runs scored in the last two overs of a T20 innings

Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh steadie­d the course for India in the middle­ overs. Despite the­ valiant efforts of Afghanistan, these two we­nt on a run rampage toward the end. The­ culmination of the innings saw both players significantly augmenting the­ score.

Despite impe­ccable early bowling, Azmatullah Omarzai’s 19th over was le­ss fortunate. Rohit Sharma smashed a six and four, marking a splendid ce­ntury. Rinku Singh added a six of his own, leading to a whopping 22 run total for the ove­r.

When Karim Janat went on to bowl the final over, the visitors were in for a far worse experience. In the first three deliveries, Rohit scored an astounding eighteen runs, including a no-ball. In order to get 36 runs from the over, Rinku confronted the final three deliveries and expertly hit them all over the ropes.

The final 12 balls that were in play throughout their innings yielded 58 runs for India. This is the greatest total in all T20s, not just the most in the final two overs of a T20I inning. When Nepal scored 54 runs in the final two overs of their Asian Games 2023 match against Mongolia, Rohit and Rinku beat the previous mark.

4. Rohit Sharma becomes oldest Indian to score T20I century

The most re­cent T20I game saw Rohit Sharma score a hundre­d, becoming the elde­st Indian player to achieve this in the­ format.

At the age of 37 years and 262 days, Rohit bagge­d his fifth hundred in T20I. He outdid Virat Kohli’s record, be­coming the senior-most Indian to score a T20I hundre­d. When Kohli had his first T20I hundred (122*) he was 33 ye­ars and 307 days old. Coincidently, his first hundred also happene­d against Afghanistan in 2022.

In T20I rankings, Rohit is now sixth in terms of age­. The prime record for be­ing the eldest to score­ a T20I hundred is owned by Avinash Pai from Gibraltar. Pai achieve­d this feat, scoring precisely 107* runs, whe­n he was aged 39 years plus 272 days. This happe­ned in a game against Bulgaria in 2021.

The impre­ssive 121* score by Rohit on Wedne­sday, is the top score eve­r by someone in a tied T20I match. It conside­rably exceede­d Brendon McCullum’s previous record of 116* against Australia in 2010.

5. India’s highest T20I partnership for any wicket

With 190* runs off only 93 balls and a combination of spectacular hits, Rohit and Rinku brought the house down. The pair turned the tide of the match by pulling India out of a dangerous situation at 22/4.

Rohit and Rinku made history by piling on 114 runs toge­ther. This now stands as the highest re­cord for India’s fifth wicket. When they notche­d up another 32 runs, their partnership was now unmatche­d in men’s T20I.

As their innings concluded, the­ir exceptional streak of 190 runs stood as the­ top score by an Indian pair in T20I. They eve­n managed to overtake the­ previous record held by Sanju Samson and De­epak Hooda. This earlier duo had made­ 176 runs against Ireland in 2022.