India defeated Afghanistan by eight wickets on Wednesday to secure their second consecutive victory at the Cricket World Cup thanks to Rohit Sharma's fast century off just 63 balls.
Sharma finished with 131 after hitting 12 fours and 4 sixes en route to being the fastest Indian batsman to reach a century in a World Cup match. Along with Ishan Kishan, he scored 156 runs off of 112 balls as India easily defeated them at 273-2.
Earlier, Afghanistan finished on 272-8 thanks to a partnership of 121 runs between Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai, the second-highest in the country's history in the World Cup.
Sharma set numerous records that day as India tied Pakistan and New Zealand with two victories from as many games.
We had a nice victory because, in a competition of this kind, it's critical to establish momentum early on, Sharma added. "I just backed myself to play my natural game, and it was a good pitch to bat." In run-chases, it is my responsibility to get things started and try to put the opposition under strain. A unique sensation arises from reaching another World Cup hundred.
It was Sharma's 31st ODI century and his seventh World Cup century overall, the most by an Indian batsman. Currently ranked third among all-time ODI hundreds, behind fellow countrymen Virat Kohli (47) and Sachin Tendulkar (49).
With five fours and two sixes, Kishan scored 47 runs off of 47 balls. At his home field, Kohli finished India's evening with 55 not out off 56 balls, including six fours.
Sharma and Kishan, who were chasing 273, established a fast tempo by hitting 50 off of only 37 balls. Only 34 balls were used in the subsequent 50.
Sharma struck seven fours and two sixes en route to his second-fastest World Cup century score of 50 off 30 balls. To get his second fifty runs off thirty-three balls, he then blasted two more sixes and five more fours. He surpassed Chris Gayle's record of 553 sixes in international cricket with his third six.
In the 19th over, against the flow of play, Kishan was out caught. The Arun Jaitely Stadium was packed, and as Kohli took the pitch to bat at his home stadium, fans were chanting his name.
After hitting 29 off the next 19 balls and 49 off 42 balls with Kohli for the second wicket, Sharma persisted in his assault on the bowlers. As he attempted to hit a googly out of the ground, Rashid Khan bowled him.
Shreyas Iyer, who struck a 101-meter six and scored 25 runs without out, joined Kohli. With 90 balls remaining, they took the third wicket and scored 68 runs off of 56 balls, giving India the victory.
Afghanistan had earlier started cautiously after winning the toss and choosing to bat. As the Indian pacers struggled to find their rhythm on a level pitch, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (21) and Ibrahim Zadran (22) put up 32 runs for the first wicket.
Mohammed Siraj was costly; after returning the identical totals against Australia in 2019, he concluded with 0-76 from nine overs, his joint-most expensive ODI session.
Gurbaz was dismissed by Hardik Pandya at square leg, but Bumrah made a breakthrough to dismiss Zadran.
Rahmat Shah was caught lbw for sixteen by Shardul Thakur, who was substituted for Ravichandran Ashwin.
It brought Azmatullah and Shahidi together, and they went 128 deliveries without giving up to India's bowlers. 118 balls were used in their partnership of 100 runs.
Shahidi reached his half-century in 58 deliveries, scoring 80 off 88 balls with eight fours and a six. It was the most ever for an Afghanistan batsman in a World Cup—his third score of fifty or more.
Azmatullah made 62 from 69 balls altogether, including 50 off 62 balls. He scored four sixes and two fours.
Kuldeep Yadav, a wrist spinner, bowled with excellent control, capturing 1-40 in 10 overs. With a final score of 2-43 from seven overs, Pandya was India's most successful bowler with 4-39, followed by Bumrah.
In the 35th over, Pandya made the breakthrough by dismissing Azmatullah, and in the 43rd over, Yadav leg-before-bowled Shahidi.
Despite finishing with their second-highest World Cup total, Afghanistan lost their final four wickets for 36 runs, with Bumrah removing hard-hitters Rashid Khan (16) and Mohammad Nabi (19).
India's next match comes on Saturday in Ahmedabad against their bitter rivals, Pakistan.
