India posted a clinical win at its last leg of Asia Cup 2022 in a match against AFG. Defending 212, Indian bowlers led by Bhuvaneshwar Sumar restricted Afghanistan to 111 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. This was the first instance of a bowler taking a five-wicket haul against Afghanistan. Stand in skipper KL Rahul posted 62 of 41 deliveries.
India’s win was facile as they had already been knocked out of the tournament however, they ensured to make it memorable before departure.
Virat Kohli was announced as the Player of the match as he broke the drought spell on his international century. Smashing his first hundred since November 2019, Kohli brought AFG a mammoth score to defeat. At just 61 balls unbeaten Kohli struck 122.
Kohli looked at his flawless best as he hammered the Afghan bowlers all over the park, clubbing 12 boundaries and six sixes, scoring at a strike rate of 200 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Kohli’s last international century came in November 2019, against Bangladesh during the pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. While the iconic Indian batter has struggled for runs in the last three years, he took a six-week break from cricket before returning to action in the ongoing Asia Cup. The break helped Kohli find his groove as he smashed a couple of half-centuries before hitting his much awaited 71st century. Kohli had to wait for 1020 days and 83 innings to get to his 71st international ton.