India beat Afghanistan by 47 runs: T20 World Cup 2024 – as it happened

We’ll be back with more T20 World Cup cricket on Friday when South Africa take on England in a game that will see one of the teams put one foot in the semifinals.

Perfect start in the Super 8s! 💪 @surya_14kumar, you were brilliant with the bat, and @Jaspritbumrah93 keeps delivering for us on the big stages!🔥🤩 Keep going, boys! 🇮🇳 @BCCI pic.twitter.com/bOIxcjxFhY

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) June 20, 2024

Thank you for tuning in to our coverage for this Super Eight game. Hope you’ll join us for the next one. Hope the rest of your day is as good as India’s was today.

For now, though – from me, Shubi Arun, and from Kevin Hand – it’s goodbye.

“We adapted well and got 180, which was a great effort from the batters. We had class bowlers who defended it perfectly. Everyone came in and did their job, that’s critical and we dwell on it,” he said.

“SKY [Suryakumar] and Hardik’s partnership was critical at that point, we needed someone to bat deep, which they did. We know Bumrah’s class and what he can do. Important for us to use him smartly regardless of conditions. He’s willing to take responsibility and he’s been doing it for years.”

“We knew we’d be chasing 160-170 given it was against a bigger team. We could’ve done it had we executed smarter,” he said.

On his own spell, which saw him take 3-26, he said: “My bowling has been coming out well, I struggled early in the IPL, but I am hitting the right areas consistently. But it’s the match result that matters most.

“We’ve enjoyed our cricket everywhere, but our mindset is what matters. If the conditions are helpful, we’ll use it depending on if it’s a batting or bowling track.”

“A lot of hard work and practice has gone behind this. A lot of routine and process. I’m very clear about what to do when I go out. I don’t mind giving this award to a bowler as well. First for a batter, hopefully the first of many.”

No surprises there. His 53 off 28 came under trying circumstances, with India’s top order back in the pavilion by the halfway stage of the innings. The manner in which he shifted the pressure back on the bowlers with his stroke play and sizzle makes him a worthy player of the match. Another key contribution from him, following his innings against USA. Much like India themselves, Suryakumar is peaking at the right time.

Innovation and excellence 🔥

Suryakumar Yadav is awarded the @Aramco POTM after his half-century proved to be the pivotal knock in the match 🏅#T20WorldCup #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/xnNV2LZbpW

— ICC (@ICC) June 20, 2024

Superb play with the bat and ball today from India. Suryakumar Yadav starred with the bat, ably supported by Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant to help India reach 181 on a difficult pitch.

The Indian bowlers were on it right from the get-go, dismissing the deadly Afghani openers Gurbaz and Zadran early in the powerplay. Wickets fell at regular intervals as Afghanistan failed to build any partnerships in their innings.

A real signal of intent from India. The World Cup final will be played at the same ground, and if India continue the same way, they’ll back themselves to be back here.

Arshdeep Singh picks up the wicket of Noor Ahmad on the last ball of the innings to seal a dominant 47 runs win for India.

Bumrah finishes his spell with 3-7. Class, as usual with 20 dot balls in his four overs.

No Indian player has taken a hat-trick in World Cups, and Arshdeep nearly becomes the first to do so. Fazalhaq edges the hat-trick ball between slip and keeper for four.

Arshdeep on a hat-trick!

The tailender Ul-Haq swipes hard at a short ball and is caught by Pant behind the stumps.

Arshdeep removes Rashid with a ball outside off that is caught at deep point by Jadeja for 2 from 6.

Noor Ahmad reverse-sweeps his first ball for four and then falls over trying to attempt it again the next ball.

Afghanistan need 63 from the last three overs.

Kuldeep Yadav picks up another wicket. This time it’s Nabi, who’s neatly caught on the boundary by Jadeja. He’d hit the last ball for six but just didn’t get enough power on this one.

Bumrah’s variation has been superb today. He’s shown that his slower ball is just as deadly as his yorker. Three overs, seven runs, three wickets. A master of his craft.

Afghanistan need 75 runs from the last four overs.

Sharp catch at point from Arshdeep Singh! Najibullah makes space down leg but sends it straight down the fielder’s throat. Bumrah picks up his third wicket of the game.

Najibullah got a six over square leg against Hardik. They’ll be needing a lot more of those.

Afghanistan need 81 from the last five overs.

The umpire says “not out” to an India appeal against Najibullah. But Hardik thinks otherwise.

The third umpire rules in favour of the umpire. As you were.

Hardik’s bouncer strikes Nabi on the helmet. The ball bounced off his head and into the hands of Pant. Concussion check on, as per protocol.