Super 8 clash: Afghanistan get 182-run target from India

India set a target of 182 runs against Afghanistan in their Super 8 match at Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Thursday. Starting their innings after winning the toss, India faced early difficulties when their captain Rohit Sharma fell to Fazalhaq Farooqi for just eight runs off 13 balls. Despite this setback, India showed resilience with Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli stabilizing the innings until both were dismissed by Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan.

India’s progress was punctuated by periodic wicket losses, finding themselves at 90-4 in 10.5 overs. The partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya then injected momentum, particularly Yadav’s brisk 53 off 28 balls. Pandya also contributed a quickfire 32 off 24 balls. Lower down the order, Axar Patel chipped in with 12 runs off six balls.

In bowling, Afghanistan’s Farooqi and Rashid Khan claimed three wickets each, while Naveen-ul-Haq took one. Both teams made strategic changes to their line-ups, with Kuldeep Yadav replacing Mohammad Siraj for India, and Hazratullah Zazai coming in for Karim Janat in Afghanistan’s team.