T20 World Cup: India vs Afghanistan, Highlights: Openers, bowlers guide India to crushing 66-run win

Abu Dhabi, Nov. 3: India registered their first win of this T20 World Cup as they clinched a thumping 66-run win over Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.

After falling to big losses in their first two games, the Indian team impressed with both bat and ball as they not only collected two important points, but also changed their negative runrate to positive to slightly better their chances of making it to the semifinals.

Skipper Virat Kohli's luck with the toss followed him to Abu Dhabi as he once again loss the coin flip and was asked to bat first. But the Indian openers put up a record opening stand as India posted the highest total of this World Cup.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul got down to business right away as they put up a whopping 140 off 89 for the opening partnership. At the onset, Rohit took charge with a sizzling 74 off 47, before Rahul quickly caught up with his partner with a solid 69 off 48.

Rohit, who along with Rahul, had been unimpressive in the first two games, displayed his true class as he hit the ball around the part to set India up for a big total. The opener, who was adjudged man-of-the-match for his stellar knock, smashed three maximums while finding the boundary ropes eight times.

Afghanistan bowlers were left clueless, as the openers scored effortlessly to set the stage for India. Rahul's innings was studded with two sixes and six boundaries.

Afghan skipper Nabi brought in Karim Janat in the 15th over to finally break the opening stand, with Rohit finding Nabi at extra cover. Rahul was quick to follow Rohit back as Gulbadin Naib removed the opener.

With less than five overs to go, Rishabh Pant came in at No. 3, while Hardik Pandya came up the order at No. 4. The duo played a sizzling partnership scoring 63 off just 21 deliveries to guide India past the 200-mark.

While all-rounder Pandya scored a sizzling unbeaten knock of 35 ofr 13, Pant scored a quickfire 27 off 13 to guide India to 210/2.

In reply, Afghanistan struggled to get going as the Indian bowlers put up a clinical display to restrict Afghanistan to 144/7. Skipper Nabi and Janat put up a partnership of 38-ball 57 to put up a fight, but the with the asking rate too high, there was just too much left to do.
While Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack with the three-wicket haul, R Ashwin, who came into the side today impressed with figures of 4-0-14-2. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja pocketed a wicket each as India clinched their first win of the tournament.

Having failed in both departments in their previous games, India clicked all boxes in their match in Abu Dhabi. Virat Kohli's side will next take on Scotland on Friday (Nov. 5), while Afghanistan will take on New Zealand on Sunday (Nov. 7).

Here are the highlights of the India vs Afghanistan match.