ICC World Cup: Rohit Sharma's century powers India to a 8-wicket win over Afghanistan

Skipper Rohit Sharma’s match-winning knock on Wednesday led India to a resounding 8-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. India chased the target of 273 runs in 35 overs.

Rohit scored 131 runs in 84 balls and stitched a solid opening partnership with Ishan Kishan who contributed 47 runs from 47 deliveries.

Sharma won the player of the match and said, "It's my job to make sure to get those starts especially in run chases. That's something I have done in the past and something I love doing," at the post-match presentation.


Meanwhile, the duo of Virat Kohli (55 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (25 not out) took the game home after Kohli hit the winning runs by striking a boundary in the 35th over.

From the Afghan side, the spin maestro Rashid Khan stood as the lone wicket-taker in the contest, claiming the wickets of Rohit and Ishan.

In the first innings, Afghanistan’s Hasmatullah Shahidi's dogged 80 and the young Azmatullah Omarazai's gutsy 62 took Afghanistan to 272 for eight.

Skipper Shahidi walked the talk as Afghanistan put up a much-improved effort with the bat compared to what they had managed in their tournament opener against Bangladesh.

His 121-run stand for the fourth wicket with 23-year-old Omarzai allowed Afghanistan to post a fighting total.

This is India’s second consecutive win in the tournament as the men in blue defeated Australia by six wickets on Sunday.

Brief Score:
Afghanistan: 272 for 8 in 50 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 80, Azmatullah Omarzai 62; Jasprit Bumrah 4/39).

India: 273 for 2 in 35 overs (Rohit Sharma 131, Virat Kohli 55 not out, Ishan Kishan 47; Rashid Khan 2/57).