IND vs AFG: Yashasvi-Rohit Partnership Powers India to Victory, Afghanistan Whitewashed 3-0
Chennai: India completed a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash of Afghanistan by winning the third ODI on Saturday with 128 balls to spare and nine wickets in hand. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna (5/23), opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (110* off 86 balls) and captain Rohit Sharma (79 off 69 balls) emerged as the three stars of India’s dominant victory.
Having already secured the series by winning the first two matches comfortably, India sealed a clean sweep in even more emphatic fashion in the final ODI. Afghanistan, after opting to bat, were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs. India chased down the target in just 28.4 overs, reaching 224/1. In the closing stages, Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer (20* off 19 balls) accelerated sharply, adding 35 runs in the final 10 deliveries to finish the chase quickly.
Jaiswal brought up the second ODI century of his career in just 83 balls. Rohit looked set for a hundred himself before being caught on 79 while attempting a shot towards deep midwicket. However, he had already laid the foundation for victory with a 170-run opening partnership alongside Jaiswal.
Earlier, Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Playing his 96th ODI, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi fought a lone battle against the Indian bowlers, scoring 102 off 131 balls with one six and 13 fours. It was the first ODI century of his career, surpassing his previous highest score of an unbeaten 97. Shahidi, who came in at No. 4, remained at the crease until the final wicket fell.
He received valuable support from Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored 50 off 56 balls, including two sixes and five fours. The pair added 105 runs for the fifth wicket, helping Afghanistan recover from a poor start.
First Five-Wicket Haul for Prasidh Krishna
Replacing Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI, Prasidh Krishna produced a superb spell to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket. Benefiting from early swing and seam movement, he troubled the Afghan batters throughout his spell.
Afghanistan lost their first four wickets for just 36 runs, with Krishna claiming all four. The remaining wickets were shared by Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, and Harsh Dubey, who picked up one wicket each.
Two Run-Outs in Two Balls
Afghanistan suffered further setbacks through two run-outs in consecutive deliveries. On the final ball of the 41st over, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan combined to run out AM Ghazanfar for one run.
Then, on the very first ball of the next over, the Gill-Kishan combination struck again as Farid Ahmad was run out without facing a delivery, becoming the second batter dismissed through a run-out in successive balls.