India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin said, because of Virat Kohli the third T20I against Afghanistan went to super over at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India and Afghanistan played two Super Overs, the first time in an international match, on Wednesday. At last India won the match.
Batting first, India finished with 212/4. Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh made a record fifth wicket partnership of 190 runs. captain Rohit Sharma scored 121* and Rinku scored 69* off 39 balls. But Afghanistan responded to India’s imposing total of 212/4 with 212/6. In the initial Super Over, Afghanistan scored 16/1, a score India matched. The second Super Over India scored 11/2, batting first. But Afghanistan could not chase down a target of 12 in the second super. Ravi Bishnoi picked the required two wickets for India and Rahit Sharma side won the 2nd super over by 10 runs. India bagged the T20I series against Afghanistan with 3-0 margin.
During Afghanistan’s chase, Virat Kohli showcased a superhuman effort to prevent what appeared to be a certain six on the boundary line. In the 17th over, Karim Janat attempted a big shot towards the long-on boundary against off-spinner Washington Sundar. The ball seemed destined to clear the ropes, but Kohli executed an incredible leap, almost completing a one-handed catch. Realising he couldn’t hold on to the ball without crossing over the ropes, Kohli swiftly flicked the ball into play before touching the boundary ropes. His exceptional effort saved five assured runs for the team. Then the match lead to a tie.
Ashwin praised Virat. “He flew like Spiderman to save a six and that is the reason the match went into Super Over and eventually India won the match,” he said on his YouTube channel. Apart from that Kohli also inflicted Gulbadin Naib’s runout in the first ball of the first Super Over.