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India win by 66 runs, stay afloat in the T20 World Cup

By Mumbai Indians

India finally got hold of some much needed points in the T20 World Cup by registering a 66-run win against Afghanistan in their third game of the group stage. This win has pushed the Men in Blue to fourth place, one spot above Namibia on the net run rate criteria.

Team India, put to bat first for the third time in three games in the ongoing tournament, put up a total of 210/2. This is the highest total in this tournament so far. The Indian openers were key orchestrators in putting up a big total and in return, registering a massive win.

Below are some talking points from tonight’s important game.

Rohit, Rahul put up massive opening stand

Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma did complete justice to their roles as openers against Afghanistan today. The duo stitched together a 140-run opening stand in just 88 deliveries. Rahul’s 69 (48) had six fours and two sixes, and Rohit’s 74 (47) had eight fours and three maximums.

Hardik, Pant take India to a challenging total

Rishabh Pant, who came in at the fall of Rohit’s wicket, followed by Hardik Pandya, who entered when Rahul departed, built on the good start given by the openers. Pant scored three maximums enroute his 27* (13) and Hardik’s 35* (13) had four fours and two sixes.

The duo’s crucial knocks added 63 runs to the third wicket partnership at a run rate of over 200.

Shami, Bumrah strike early

Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah took wickets off back-to-back deliveries in the third and fourth overs to take out the Afghanistan openers before they could settle in for the big chase. Shami was the first to strike, bowling out Mohammed Shahzad for 0 (4). Hazratullah Zazai found himself in the same position in the very next delivery from Bumrah, and he departed for 13 (15).

Ashwin keeps middle order in check

Ravichandran Ashwin claimed the wickets of both the No. 3 and No. 4 batters, Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran, who threatened to get going. His stellar efforts of 4-0-14-2 not only sent home a couple of Afghanistan’s best batters, but also put pressure on the opposition by being measly with runs.

These wickets were Ashwin’s first in T20Is since 2016.

India’s NRR gets a big boost

The biggest positive of this game was the much-needed improvement of India’s net run rate. From being below -1.6, the number now sits at a much better +0.073. Afghanistan's net run rate, which sat at over +3.0 at the beginning of the game, has now come down to +1.48.

With this emphatic win, India will next play Scotland on 5th November, 2021, back at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.