Rohit Sharma becomes first batter to achieve five T20I tons

18 January, 2024

The intense battle unfolded after the third match concluded in a tie, fueled by Rohit Sharma's remarkable century.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, etched his name in history by becoming the first player to achieve five T20 international centuries. His unbeaten innings of 121 off 69 balls propelled the hosts to 212-4 in Bengaluru, overcoming a precarious start where they had slipped to 22-4.

Afghanistan, however, mounted a spirited comeback as Gulbadin Naib's unbeaten 55 off 23 balls propelled his side to 212-6. Naib managed to take two runs off the final delivery, levelling the scores and setting the stage for a super over, reminiscent of the dramatic 2019 50-over World Cup final between England and New Zealand.

The Super Over ended in another tie, with Afghanistan scoring 16 and India matching the same total. Drawing parallels with the 2019 World Cup, where England clinched the trophy on boundary count, this match added another layer of excitement.

In the second Super Over, India posted 11-1, with Rohit Sharma single-handedly scoring all the runs off the opening three balls. Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi proved instrumental, conceding only one run and securing two crucial wickets to seal the victory.

Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma, who had faced a duck in the opening two wins, showcased his prowess by hitting 11 fours and eight sixes. His formidable partnership with Rinku Singh, who contributed an unbeaten 69 off 39 balls, added 190 runs to India's total.

Despite Afghanistan's commendable efforts, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran's 93-run opening stand, the heroics belonged to Rohit Sharma. Spinner Washington Sundar's impressive figures of 3-18 also played a key role.

The thrilling encounter concluded with Rohit Sharma surpassing Glenn Maxwell and Suryakumar Yadav, securing the record for the most T20 centuries. As India celebrates this hard-fought victory, they now turn their attention to hosting England for five Test matches before the upcoming Indian Premier League T20 tournament.