The third T20I match between India and Afghanistan left fans on a thrilling high, with India pulling off a nail-biting victory after not one, but two Super Overs. The game held in Bengaluru showcased an intense competition that witnessed high-voltage performances, especially from the Indian pavilion. Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh dominated the batting front with a partnership yielding 190 runs, propelling India to a formidable total of 212 runs. Captain Rohit Sharma even set a milestone, becoming the first batsman in T20 internationals to hit five centuries with his unbeaten 121 off 69 balls. However, it was the incredible fielding of Virat Kohli that truly left the audience spellbound.
Without contributing much with the bat due to an unfortunate first-ball duck, Kohli turned the game on its head with his remarkable athleticism on the field. His first heroic act—a boundary save compared to the limberness of Jasprit Bumrah—saw him prevent a certain six with a leap that sent the crowd and social media into a frenzy. But Kohli’s magic didn’t end there. He followed it up with a stunning running catch that sent Najibullah Zadran back to the pavilion, assisting Avesh Khan in narrowing the opposition’s prospects. Despite Gulbadin Naib’s valiant effort for Afghanistan, scoring an unbeaten 55 off just 23 balls to draw the match at 212-6, it was the Indian talent that shone through in the Super Over face-offs.
However, none were as vocal in their praise as Anand Mahindra, who was in sheer amazement at Kohli’s boundary masterstroke and catch which were pivotal to India’s win. He took to social media appealing to the legendary physicist Isaac Newton for a reconceptualization of his laws of physics to accommodate Kohli’s ‘anti-gravity’ maneuver. Echoing the sentiments of a euphoric cricketing populace, they hailed Kohli’s dedication and hard work that translated into these jaw-dropping moments. Some even playfully suggested that the laws of cricket momentarily superseded those of physics, as Kohli’s leaps saved critical runs that ultimately made all the difference. With Ravi Bishnoi restricting Afghanistan to a single run in the second Super Over, it was India who triumphed in a match that involved strategy, skill, and a refreshing dose of gravity-defying cricket.