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India take apart Afghanistan bowling, score highest total in T20 World Cup 2021

Abhishek Singh

The Indian batters went on a rampage right from the word go and scored the highest total for any team T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian team, which was invited to bat first after losing yet another toss, had a blistering start with the openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul putting on a 140 run partnership in only 89 balls. 

While Rohit Sharma got out eventually in the 15th over on a score of 74 off just 47 balls. He hit eight fours and three sixes and was caught at mid-off by Mohammad Nabi off the bowling of Karim Janat. Rahul on the other hand didn’t last longer afterwards either and was removed for 69 by Gulbandin Naib. 

But if the Afghan bowlers thought that they might have a reprieve, they were in a big misunderstanding as Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant added 63 for the fourth wicket in just 21 deliveries. Pandya remained unbeaten on 35 off just 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes while Pant made hit three sixes to score 27 off 13 balls as well. 

This total of 210 is now the second time India has broken into the plus 200 runs category in any World Cup and is only eight runs short of the team’s 2007 total of 218-4 against England. The 140 run partnership between Rohit and Rahul is now the highest partnership for any wicket by India in a World Cup.

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