T20 World Cup 2024: Top 10 Memes from AFG vs IND, Match 43

Afghanistan and India faced each other in their first Super Eights match at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday, June 20. India won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch which looked like a good one for batting. Both teams made one change each from their respective last match - India brought in Kuldeep Yadav for Mohammed Siraj and Afghanistan replaced Karim Janat with Hazratullah Zazai.

The opening partnership did not fire for India again. It was Rohit Sharma this time who was out cheaply, toe-ending a Fazalhaq Farooqi delivery to Rashid Khan in the third over. Rishabh Pant joined Virat Kohli at the crease and stabilised the innings. India suffered no further damage in the powerplay, finishing it at 47/1. Soon after though, Pant was trapped LBW by Rashid Khan who, believe it or not, took his first wicket against India in T20Is with that dismissal. The leggie made further inroads, scalping the big wicket of Virat Kohli who did not look his usual self while scoring a run-a-ball 24.

Also Read: Rashid Khan scalps first T20I wicket against India during pivotal Super Eight clash

Rashid Khan was not done yet as he dismissed Shivam Dube (10 off 7) who failed to impress again. However, a 60-run partnership ensued between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya (32 off 24) to provide a platform for an above par score. Suryakumar turned out to be the highest scorer of the innings (53 off 28). A late flourish from the lower order took India to 181/8.

Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/33) and Rashid Khan (3/26) were the standout bowlers. Naveen-ul-haq was the other wicket-taker finishing with figures of 1/40.

Afghanistan began the chase in earnest, scoring 13 runs off the first over from Arshdeep Singh. However, India's golden arm Jasprit Bumrah came into the attack in the second over and dismissed the promising Rahmanullah Gurbaz (11 off 8). Afghanistan could not find momentum in the powerplay as they lost two more wickets, finishing it at 35/3.

Also Read - Explained: Why Indian team is wearing black armbands in Super 8 clash against Afghanistan?

Gulbadin Naib (17 off 21), Azmatullah Omarzai (26 off 20), Najibullah Zadran (19 off 17), and Mohammad Nabi (14 off 14) tried to revive the innings at different stages and did provide flashes of brilliance, but it was not enough as the team kept on losing wickets at crucial junctures.

Eventually, Afghanistan were bowled out for 134 in 20 overs, losing the match by 47 runs. Among the Indian bowlers, Bumrah stood out for his brilliant figures of 4-1-7-3. Arshdeep was the other bowler who picked up three wickets (3/36). Axar Patel (1/15), Kuldeep Yadav (2/32), and Ravindra Jadeja (1/20) were the other wicket-takers.

Here are some of the best memes from the match -