India showcased their dominance in the T20 World Cup Super 8s with a resounding 47-run victory over Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval on Thursday.
Suryakumar Yadav's fearless batting and Jasprit Bumrah's clinical bowling were the standout performances that guided India to a convincing win.
Opting to bat first on a challenging pitch, India faced early setbacks as captain Rohit Sharma departed early for just 8 runs.
However, Suryakumar Yadav stepped up with a masterful innings, scoring 53 off 28 balls. His aggressive strokeplay was pivotal in India reaching a competitive total of 181 for 8.
Rishabh Pant (20 off 11) and Hardik Pandya (32 off 24) also contributed crucial runs, with Pandya's powerful hitting towards the end bolstering India's innings.
Virat Kohli (24 off 24) played a steady knock but fell at a crucial juncture.
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan (3/26) posed a threat with his spin, picking up wickets at key intervals to keep India in check.
His early strikes put pressure on the Indian batting lineup, but Suryakumar's counter-attack turned the momentum in India's favor.
In response, Afghanistan faltered in their chase, losing wickets regularly and failing to build partnerships.
Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional once again, finishing with figures of 3/7 in his four overs. His accuracy and variations troubled the Afghan batsmen throughout their innings.
Kuldeep Yadav (2/32) also made a significant impact with his spin bowling, contributing to Afghanistan's downfall.
The Afghan top-order struggled against India's disciplined bowling attack, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (11 off 8) and Hazratullah Zazai (0) falling early to Bumrah's clinical spells.
Despite Azmatullah Omarzai's defiant 26 off 20 balls, Afghanistan could only manage to score 134 all out in their allotted 20 overs.
The lack of substantial partnerships and poor shot selection proved costly for Afghanistan, extending their winless streak against India.
India's next challenge in the Super 8s will be against Bangladesh in Antigua on Saturday.
With their comprehensive victory over Afghanistan, India has set a strong foundation in the group stage of the T20 World Cup, aiming to advance further in the tournament.
The match at Kensington Oval witnessed moments of brilliance from both teams, but India's superior all-round performance ensured they emerged victorious.
Suryakumar Yadav's aggressive batting, combined with Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling, proved to be the decisive factors in India's commanding win.
India's highest total at Kensington Oval proved too daunting for Afghanistan, as they struggled to cope with the pressure exerted by India's bowlers.
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