How Afghanistan Stunned India with a Thrilling Tie in the 2018 Asia Cup Super Four Clash

Afghanistan posted a competitive total of over 250, challenging India’s batting depth. The chase went down to the very last ball, where Afghanistan held their nerves and managed to stop India, forcing the game into an exciting tie. It was a memorable match that showed Afghanistan’s fighting spirit and gave the tournament one of its most dramatic moments.

India vs Afghanistan: Asia Cup 2018

The match where Afghanistan took on India in the Asia Cup Super Four on September 25, 2018, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium was a nail-biter from the start. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat, setting the stage for a memorable innings that ended at 252 for 8 in their 50 overs. It was Mohammad Shahzad, the fiery opener, who stole the show with a brilliant century, backed by a late surge from Mohammad Nabi that gave Afghanistan a fighting total.

Right from the first ball, Shahzad looked like a man on a mission. He took on India’s bowlers, Khaleel Ahmed and debutant Deepak Chahar, with fearless shots, smashing boundaries and sixes like he was playing a T20 game. By the end of the powerplay (overs 0.1 to 10), Afghanistan had raced to 63 without losing a wicket. Shahzad was the star, reaching his fifty in just 37 balls, peppering the boundary with seven fours and two sixes. His partner, Javed Ahmadi, played a quieter role, scratching around for 5 off 30 balls before Ravindra Jadeja got him stumped by MS Dhoni in the 12.4 over, breaking their 65-run opening stand.

Things got shaky after that. Rahmat Shah came in but didn’t last long, bowled by Jadeja for 3 off 4 balls in the 14.4 over. Then came a double blow from Kuldeep Yadav in the 15th over. First, he had Hashmatullah Shahidi stumped for a duck, and the very next ball, he trapped captain Asghar Afghan for another duck. Suddenly, Afghanistan was wobbling at 82 for 4 after 15.3 overs. Shahzad, though, was still there, batting like a dream. He kept finding gaps, hitting 10 fours and six sixes on his way to a stunning 100 off 88 balls, reached in the 20th over. The crowd was buzzing, and even the Indian fielders looked impressed.

Gulbadin Naib joined Shahzad to steady the ship, and the two added 50 runs for the fifth wicket over 77 balls. It wasn’t as flashy as Naib made 15 off 46 balls, but it kept Afghanistan in the game. Naib fell in the 28.4 over, caught by Kedar Jadhav off Chahar, leaving the score at 132 for 5. Shahzad kept going, looking unstoppable until he was finally dismissed for 124 off 116 balls in the 37.5 over, caught by Dinesh Karthik off Jadhav. His knock, with 11 fours and seven sixes, was the heart of Afghanistan’s innings, and at 180 for 6, they needed someone else to step up.

That someone was Mohammad Nabi. Coming in at No. 7, he played with a mix of caution and aggression, forming a key 46-run stand with Najibullah Zadran, who chipped in with 20 off 20 balls, including two fours. Zadran’s stay ended in the 44.1 over, lbw to Jadeja after a failed review, making it 226 for 7. Nabi, though, was in fine form, reaching his fifty off 45 balls with three fours and three sixes. He pushed Afghanistan past 200 in the 41.2 overs and kept the scoreboard moving. In the 47.3 over, Nabi fell for 64 off 56 balls, caught by Kuldeep off Khaleel, leaving Afghanistan at 244 for 8.

The tail didn’t give up. Rashid Khan, unbeaten on 12 off 19 balls, and Aftab Alam, not out on 2 off 6, nudged the score to 252 for 8. Extras helped with 7 runs (1 leg bye, 1 no-ball, 5 wides). India’s bowlers had mixed days. Jadeja was the pick, grabbing 3 for 46 in 10 overs, including a maiden, keeping things tight at 4.60 runs per over. Kuldeep took 2 for 38 in 10 overs, also economical at 3.80. Khaleel got 1 for 45 with a maiden, Chahar 1 for 37, and Jadhav 1 for 27. Siddarth Kaul was expensive, leaking 58 in 9 overs without a wicket.

Chasing 253, India’s innings was a rollercoaster that ended in a heart-stopping tie at 252 all out in 49.5 overs. It started with promise as openers KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu built a solid platform, but Afghanistan’s spinners and sharp fielding turned the game into a classic. The Dubai crowd was on edge as India’s middle and lower order fought hard but couldn’t quite cross the line. Rahul and Rayudu opened with confidence, putting on 64 for no loss in the first 10 overs.

Rayudu was the aggressor, racing to his fifty in 43 balls with three fours and four sixes, while Rahul played a more measured role. Their 100-run stand came in 92 balls, with India reaching 100 in 15.2 overs. Rayudu looked in top form, smashing 57 off 49 balls at a strike rate of 116.32, but his innings ended in the 17.1 over, caught by Najibullah Zadran off Mohammad Nabi, leaving India at 110 for 1. Rahul kept going, reaching his fifty in 55 balls with four fours and one six. He looked set for a big one until Rashid Khan struck in the 20.3 over, trapping him lbw for 60 off 66 balls.

India reviewed, but the decision stood, and at 127 for 2, the chase was still on track. MS Dhoni joined Dinesh Karthik, but the pair managed only 15 runs together. Dhoni, usually calm under pressure, fell lbw to Javed Ahmadi for 8 off 17 balls in the 25.5 over, making it 142 for 3. Manish Pandey came in but struggled, scoring 8 off 15 balls before Aftab Alam had him caught by Shahzad in the 30.3 over, leaving India at 166 for 4.

At the drinks break, India were 180 for 4 after 33 overs, with Karthik on 31 and Kedar Jadhav on 9. The two added 38 runs for the fifth wicket, with Karthik playing a steady hand, scoring 44 off 66 balls with four fours. Jadhav made 19 off 26 with two fours but was run out by Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the 38.5 over, pushing the score to 204 for 5. Karthik followed soon after, lbw to Nabi for 44 in the 39.4 over, leaving India at 205 for 6. The game was slipping, and Afghanistan sensed a chance.

Ravindra Jadeja and Deepak Chahar came together, adding 21 runs for the seventh wicket. Chahar scored 12 off 14 balls with one four before Aftab Alam bowled him in the 44.5 over, making it 226 for 7. Kuldeep Yadav joined Jadeja, and they pushed India past 200 in 36.2 overs and 250 in 49.2. Kuldeep scored 9 off 11 balls but was run out in the 48.1 over after a risky third run, with Gulbadin Naib and Alam combining for a sharp throw, leaving India at 242 for 8.

Siddarth Kaul came in but didn’t last, run out for a duck off one ball by Hashmatullah Shahidi in the 48.5 over, making it 245 for 9. Jadeja, battling on with 25 off 34 balls and one four, kept India alive. With 7 needed off the final over from Rashid, Jadeja smashed a four in the 49.2 over but refused a single earlier to keep strike. He took singles in the 49.3 and 49.4 overs, leaving Khaleel Ahmed, not out on 1 off 1, to face briefly. In the 49.5 over, Jadeja mistimed a pull off Rashid and was caught by Najibullah, tying the scores at 252.

Extras added 9 runs (5 leg byes, 1 no-ball, 3 wides). Afghanistan’s bowlers shone, with Aftab Alam taking 2 for 53, Nabi 2 for 40, and Rashid 2 for 41. Mujeeb was tidy with 0 for 43, while Naib, Ahmadi, and Rahmat Shah chipped in. Powerplays saw 64 for 0 in the first 10, 143 for 6 in the next 30, and 45 for 4 in the last 10. India’s reviews failed for Rahul, and Afghanistan’s for Jadhav. It was a chase full of promise that came under pressure, with Afghanistan’s spinners and fielders holding their nerve to force an unforgettable tie.