Mohammed Shami’s hat-trick, 2 Super Overs after Rohit Sharma’s 121:Virat Kohli’s maiden T20I ton; 5 unforgettable India vs Afghanistan matches

After a one-sided one-off Test which saw India thrash Afghanistan by a record margin of an innings and 300 runs, the two teams will now meet in a three-match ODI series, the first of which is to be played on 13 June. The picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala would play host to the ODI series opener. While their battle in the one-off Test was largely one-sided, the same cannot be said for white-ball formats. While India are yet to be defeated by Afghanistan in any format, the competition in ODIs and T20Is between these teams has been more intense. From double Super Overs to hat-tricks and tied matches, India and Afghanistan have had some really memorable clashes thus far in ODIs and T20Is. Let’s relive some unforgettable India vs Afghanistan memories. Rahul-Rayudu’s half-century went in vain as Asia Cup clash ended in a tie India and Afghanistan have had four ODIs so far and two of them have been absolutely unforgettable. The first of these two was at the Asia Cup in 2018 in Dubai. India, then led by MS Dhoni, failed to chase down 253 runs in 50 overs and the match ended in a tie. Openers KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu’s half-centuries went in vain and so did Ravindra Jadeja’s three-wicket haul. Batting first, Mohammad Shahzad scored an outstanding knock of 124 runs, facing 116 balls, helping Afghanistan post 252/8. After the tied match, Shahzad was awarded the POTM award for his century. Mohammed Shami’s hat-trick in 2019 ODI World Cup One of the most memorable India vs Afghanistan clashes came during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, when Afghanistan came agonisingly close to pulling off a historic upset. Chasing a 225 to win, Afghanistan stayed in the contest largely due to a fighting half-century from Mohammad Nabi. With just 16 runs required in the final over, the match was hanging in the balance and India were under immense pressure. However, Mohammed Shami emerged as India’s hero with a sensational hat-trick in the last over. He first dismissed Nabi, who was Afghanistan’s biggest hope, before clean bowling Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in consecutive deliveries. Shami’s remarkable spell secured an 11-run victory for India and created history as it was the first hat-trick of the 2019 World Cup and the 10th hat-trick ever recorded in the tournament. India beat Afghanistan in Double Super Over after Rohit Sharma’s 121 The third T20I between India and Afghanistan on 17 January 2024 produced one of the most thrilling finishes in T20I history. India eventually emerged victorious in a dramatic double Super Over contest, completing a 3-0 clean sweep of the bilateral series. Ravi Bishnoi held his nerve brilliantly in the final Super Over, successfully defending 12 runs to seal the memorable win for the Men in Blue. Earlier in the match, Rohit Sharma led India’s charge with a sensational unbeaten 121-run knock, while Virat Kohli chipped in with a valuable 55 runs at No. 3. Rinku Singh (69) also played a breathtaking cameo in the death overs to take India to 212/4. For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (50), Ibrahim Zadran (50), and Gulbadin Naib (55) produced fighting fifties and needed three runs off the last ball, Gulbadin Naib managed a double and the game went into a Super Over. In the first Super Over, Afghanistan batted first and scored 16 while losing one wicket. Rohit led India’s charge in the Super Over, striking two sixes and scoring 16 to tie the first Super Over. Now, it was India’s turn to bat in the second one. India scored 11 runs but lost both their wickets in five balls. Ravi Bishnoi then dismissed both Afghanistan batters in three deliveries to seal India’s victory. India won the series 3-0. Virat Kohli’s first-ever T20I century in 2022 It was an India vs Afghanistan T20I back at the 2022 Asia Cup where Virat Kohli had scored his maiden T20I century. The hundred was a special one not because it was Kohli’s first in the shortest format at the international level, but it ended a century-drought after 1021 days. Batting first, Kohli’s unbeaten 122 off 61 balls led India to 212/2 in 20 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then complemented Kohli’s effort with a sensational bowling performance, picking up five wickets for just four runs in four overs to script India’s win. First-ever IND vs AFG T20I clash at T20 WC 2010 India and Afghanistan faced each other in a T20 International for the first time on 1 May, 2010, during the 2010 ICC T20 World Cup. The group-stage encounter took place at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, where India registered a comfortable seven-wicket victory to begin their head-to-head record against Afghanistan. Batting first, Afghanistan posted 115/8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Noor Ali Zadran scoring a valuable half-century. In reply, India chased down the target with ease in just 14.5 overs. Murali Vijay starred on his T20I debut with a fluent 48-run knock, while Ashish Nehra’s impressive spell of 3/19 earned him the Player of the Match award.