IND vs AFG: Hitman is back! India on top as Ro-hits century

IND vs AFG: After scoring two consecutive ducks in the previous two encounters against Afghanistan, Rohit Sharma has announced his return to the T20I in style. Shama hammered a blitzing ton at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to save the sinking ship of India on Thursday. Rinku Singh's fiery innings also helped India to cross the 200-run mark. 

Innings Break!

A milestone TON from captain @ImRo45 🔝
A stunning half-century from @rinkusingh235 👌#TeamIndia post 212/4 on the board.

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/oJkETwOHlL #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/DWHAtdkyyM

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024

Afghan pacers wreck havoc

Afghanistan's opening bowlers, Fareed Ahmed and Azmatullah Omarzai, ripped through the Indian top order on a deceptively bouncy Chinnaswamy pitch. Ahmed claimed a sensational three wickets in the powerplay, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli for a golden duck, and Sanju Samson for another duck. Shivam Dube, the hero of the previous two matches, also fell cheaply for one, leaving India reeling at 23/4.

Rohit and Rinku steadies the ship

Captain Rohit Sharma, who had endured back-to-back ducks in the series, found himself under immense pressure. But alongside Rinku Singh, he weathered the early storm and steadied the Indian innings. The pair slowly rebuilt the innings, taking calculated risks and rotating the strike effectively. 

📸 📸

That Was One Ro-Special 💯!

Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/oJkETwOHlL#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/n42Wcei0B2

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024

Exploding in the death overs

After crossing the 100-run mark in the 10th over, Rohit and Rinku switched gears completely. The pair hammered in the deathovers and found boundaries with effortless ease. 

Rohit Sharma completes his ton

In the final five overs, the Indian duo plundered 103 runs, completely taking the game away from Afghanistan. Rohit reached his T20I century with a powerful straight drive, his first in eight months, and finished with a monumental 121 off 69 balls, featuring 11 fours and eight sixes.

🎥 That Record-Breaking Moment! 🙌 🙌@ImRo45 notches up his 5⃣th T20I hundred 👏 👏

Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/oJkETwOHlL#TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ITnWyHisYD

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2024

Rinku Singh was his partner in crime, smashing 69 runs off 39 balls with four sixes and two fours. The pair remained unbeaten on a record-breaking 190-run partnership off just 95 balls, the highest ever by an Indian team in T20Is.