Jaiswal Century Powers India to Dominant Nine-Wicket Victory Over Afghanistan

India defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets in Chennai, chasing down a target of 219 with 128 balls remaining. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 110 and Rohit Sharma added 79 to lead the chase, while Prasidh Krishna took 5-23 to restrict Afghanistan to a total of 218, according to match data.

How did India restrict Afghanistan to 218?

Prasidh Krishna dominated the early stages of the first innings, taking three early wickets. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran both edged to Rohit Sharma at first slip, while Rahmat Shah fell to a leading edge, per the match report.

Krishna’s first spell read 5-2-6-4. He later dismissed Hashmatullah Shahidi, who had scored a maiden ODI century (102), by inducing a pull to deep midwicket to end the innings.

Afghanistan’s progress was halted by two run-outs effected by Shubman Gill. A late-game collapse saw Afghanistan lose three wickets in seven balls after Shahidi conceded a five-run penalty for running on the danger area of the pitch.

Did You Know? Yashasvi Jaiswal is the first batter to score two hundreds for India in his first six men’s ODI innings, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan, who scored two in his first seven.

Why was the Indian chase so dominant?

India’s openers established an 81-run powerplay, hitting 11 fours and two sixes. Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal reached their respective fifties in the 16th and 12th overs, according to the report.

India vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI Highlights | Yashasvi Jaiswal 110 & Rohit Sharma 79 | IND vs AFG

The chase began aggressively, with India scoring 26 runs in the first over alone due to three fours, two no-balls, and a wide. Rohit Sharma accelerated further against Rashid Khan, hitting three fours and a six.

Jaiswal finished the match with a six to reach his century, followed by another six and a four in the final over to secure the victory.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the match was decided by India’s ability to capitalize on Afghanistan’s discipline lapses. The combination of Prasidh Krishna’s clinical opening spell and Afghanistan’s late-inning run-out errors created a psychological gap that India’s openers exploited with a high-strike-rate approach.

What could this mean for the team selection?

Jaiswal’s performance may influence his standing in the 50-over squad. While the report notes he is currently on the fringes of the team, his record-breaking start could make him a more permanent fixture.

The effectiveness of the all-rounder heavy line-up, featuring Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harsh Dubey, may be reviewed after they conceded 103 runs across 21 overs while taking only one wicket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the top scorer for Afghanistan?
Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 102 runs, marking his maiden ODI hundred.

How many wickets did Prasidh Krishna take?
Prasidh Krishna took 5 wickets for 23 runs.

How did Jaiswal reach his century?
Jaiswal brought up his second ODI century with a six in the final over of the game.

How do you think Jaiswal’s record-breaking start will impact India’s opening lineup in future series?