The Indian cricket team has had the best start they could have imagined to their World Cup campaign. After comfortably winning against the mighty Aussies in the opener, they have overcome another adversary in the form of Afghanistan, to make it 2 wins in 2 games.
And the credit of this win goes to none of other than the Indian skipper and our very own hitman, Rohit Sharma.
Sharma scores 131 off 84 balls
Rohit Sharma’s innings against Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup 2023 was one of the tournament’s most devastating batting displays ever seen. He scored a 131 in just 84 balls, with 16 fours and five sixes. His strike rate was a staggering 156.25.
He started his innings cautiously but soon opened up and began playing with his trademark aggression. Throughout his inning, he hit some stunning shots, including a number of sixes over the long-on boundary. He reached his century in just 63 balls, the fastest century by an Indian in a World Cup match.
Sharma’s innings was particularly impressive because it came against a very good Afghan bowling attack. The Afghans had a number of experienced bowlers in their lineup, including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. However, Sharma was able to master all of them.
This inning of his helped India to chase down Afghanistan’s target of 273 with ease. India won the match by eight wickets and with 90 balls to spare. Sharma was named the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance. Sharma’s innings was one of the ODI World Cup 2023 highlights. It was a display of power, timing, and precision. It was an inning that will be remembered for many years to come.
Here are some specific highlights from Sharma’s innings:
- He hit a six over long-on off the very first ball he faced.
- He reached his fifty in just 36 balls.
- He hit a six over deep midwicket off Rashid Khan, one of the best bowlers in the world.
- He reached his century in just 63 balls, the fastest century by an Indian in a World Cup match.
- He finished his innings with 131 runs in 84 balls at a strike rate of 156.25.
Sharma’s innings was a truly special performance. It was an innings that showed why he is one of the best batsmen in the world.
Bumrah records personal best at World Cup
Jasprit Bumrah produced a magnificent bowling performance against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup, claiming four wickets for just 39 runs in 10 overs. His spell was instrumental in restricting Afghanistan to 272/8, a total that India eventually chased down to win by 66 runs.
Bumrah started his spell with a bang, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the very first over. He then bowled a series of tight overs, keeping the Afghan batsmen on a leash. He got his second wicket in the 14th over, when he trapped Najibullah Zadran LBW.
Bumrah then struck twice in quick succession to remove Ibrahim Zadran and Asghar Afghan. He bowled Ibrahim Zadran with a searing yorker, and he had Asghar Afghan caught behind off an excellent bouncer.
Bumrah’s bowling performance against Afghanistan was a masterclass in seam bowling. He used his variations to great effect, and he kept the Afghan batsmen guessing throughout his spell. He was also very disciplined in his bowling, and he didn’t give away any easy runs.
Bumrah’s performance was all the more impressive considering that he was bowling on a flat pitch that was offering very little assistance to the bowlers. He also had to deal with a strong Afghan batting lineup, which included some of the best hitters in the world.
Bumrah’s four-wicket haul was his best-ever bowling performance in an ODI World Cup match. It was also the best bowling performance by an Indian bowler in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Bumrah’s bowling performance against Afghanistan was a major turning point in the match. He helped to restrict Afghanistan to a manageable total, which India was able to chase down comfortably.
Bumrah’s performance was also a reminder of his class and quality. He is one of the best bowlers in the world, and he is capable of winning matches for India on any given day.
