World Cup 2023: Back-to-back wickets was the reason we didn’t score more runs – Hashmatullah Shahidi after loss against India

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted that losing back-to-back wickets was the reason they didn’t score more runs after suffering an eight-wicket loss against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday.

On the batting paradise, Afghanistan found themselves reeling at 63-3 after Shahidi won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the Afghanistan skipper added 121 runs with Azmatullah Omarzai for the fourth wicket to get his team’s innings on track.

But Afghanistan could not finish on a high after half-centuries from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai. Shahidi scored 80 runs from 88 balls whereas Omarzai scored his second ODI fifty. However, the lower-middle order could not contribute much to Afghan’s score as they could only manage 272-8 in 50 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers, returning with his best World Cup figures of 4-39 in his quota of 10 overs.

On the other hand, India chased down the score with 15 overs to spare after their skipper Rohit Sharma smashed a 63-ball century, the fastest for India in World Cup history, breaking former captain Kapil Dev’s record of 72-ball hundred. Rohit broke a few more records during his 84-ball 131-run knock as he became the joint-fastest to score 1000 runs (19 innings) with David Warner in World Cup.

This was Rohit’s seventh century in World Cup, the most for any batter and his 31st ODI hundred as he overtook former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s tally. Moreover, Rohit overtook Chris Gayle’s record of most sixes in International cricket.

Hashmatullah Shahidi said in the post-match presentation, “We had in mind that India’s batting lineup is long, 300 was on our mind but unfortunately we lost too many wickets. The surface was good. We wanted to score more runs and put pressure on the opposition. Back-to-back wickets was the reason we didn’t score more runs. After losing 3 wickets I was talking to Azmatullah – Don’t worry about dots, we will convert later. Our aim was to build a partnership. We have seven more games, looking forward to those games. Hopefully, we learn from our mistakes and we will work on it.”

Afghanistan’s bowling looked toothless as Rohit Sharma put on a carnage on Wednesday. Furthermore, Ishan Kishan scored a run-a-ball 47 whereas Kohli continued his purple patch to score his 67th ODI fifty.

Afghanistan will next play against defending champions England at the same venue on Sunday.