In a thrilling T20 encounter in Mohali on a chilly winter evening, Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first. The temperature, currently at 8 degrees Celsius, set the stage for a gripping match between India and Afghanistan.
Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 158-5 in their 20 overs, showcasing their batting prowess despite the challenging weather conditions. As the cold wave grappled North India, the players had to battle not only the opposition but also the biting cold.
India began their chase with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening the innings. However, a moment of frustration unfolded as Rohit Sharma was run-out, courtesy of Gill being engrossed in ball watching. Despite the early setback, the innings progressed, and young talent Tilak Varma, batting at number 3, displayed some impressive shots, amassing 26 runs off 22 balls.
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Watch: Gulbadin Naib Takes A Stunner To Dismiss Tilak Varma
The turning point came in the 9th over when Varma fell victim to a spectacular catch. Facing a slower short ball from Omarzai, Varma adeptly picked it, using his body to twist around and executing a shovel shot over backward square leg. The drama intensified as Naib in the deep initially appeared to misjudge the catch. However, he recovered remarkably, running forward and then throwing himself back, managing to hold onto the ball, taking a screamer of a catch.
As India reached 126-4, needing only 3 runs to win off 33 balls at the time of writing, the match hung in the balance. The captivating contest underlines the resilience and skill of the players, who braved the winter chill to deliver an entertaining T20 spectacle in Mohali. The fans eagerly await the conclusion of the match, with India on the brink of victory but Afghanistan refusing to concede easily.
Gulbadin take a blinder💥💥💥💥💥 India lose their 3rd Wicket.
Last wicket : Tilak Varma#PAKvsNZ #INDvsAFG #Vamika #ViratKohli #BabarAzam𓃵 #SanjuSamson #StockMarket #AsianCup2023 #Earthquakes pic.twitter.com/ZChzlohsLL— Thomas Shelby (@P_Shelby07) January 11, 2024
