Rohit Sharma spearheaded an impressive India performance with a 63-ball century as the World Cup hosts maintained their 100 per cent record with an eight-wicket win over Afghanistan.
Rohit’s effort was the sixth-quickest ton in World Cup history and he moved past countryman Sachin Tendulkar with the most centuries in the tournament’s history with seven.
His knock was ended on 131 from 84 balls but, by then, the match was all but done as India chased down their victory target of 273 with 15 overs to spare.
1⃣3⃣1⃣ runs
8⃣4⃣ deliveries
1⃣6⃣ fours
5⃣ sixesEnd of a spectacular knock from #TEAMINDIA Captain Rohit Sharma! 👏👏#CWC23 | #INDVAFG | #MENINBLUE PIC.TWITTER.COM/4MDEFMD56Y
— BCCI (@BCCI) OCTOBER 11, 2023
Earlier, Afghanistan made a commendable 272 for eight but, under the lights, it never looked like being enough.
Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai played well for 80 (88 balls) and 62 (69 balls) respectively – putting on 121 for the fourth wicket – but the innings never got away from India thanks largely to the nagging line and length of Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed four for 39 from his 10 overs.
India’s opening pair of Rohit and Ishan Kishan both made ducks against Australia in their tournament opener but they did not look devoid of confidence as they set about their task in Delhi.
Kishan was the more circumspect of the two, in contrast to Rohit whose timing was immaculate from the outset.
The India captain scored 36 of his team’s first 50 and 79 of 100 as the pair rattled along.
By the time India had 150, Rohit had reached three figures himself, achieved with a clip for a single on the leg side.
Kishan departed with the score on 156 having made a run-a-ball 47, getting a leading edge to a Rashid Khan delivery and dollying one up to Ibrahim Zadran who took the simplest of catches.
Virat Kohli joined Rohit at the crease and they edged the score past 200 before the former’s scintillating knock was brought to an end, heaving across the line to Khan and seeing his stumps shattered.
His 131 contained 16 fours and five sixes.
Kohli completed his 68th ODI half-century, finishing with 55 not out from 56 balls, and Shreyas Iyer added 25 from 23 as India eased home.
