In the third T20I of the 3-match series against Afghanistan, India captain Rohit Sharma delivered an exceptional performance, scoring an unbeaten 121 runs. His remarkable innings set the stage for an exhilarating match that ultimately required two Super Overs to determine the outcome. While Rohit received well-deserved praise from fans on social media, his decision during the first Super Over sparked a significant debate. With India needing 2 runs to win from the final ball of the first eliminator, Rohit chose to walk out, allowing Rinku Singh to take his place at the non-striker’s end. However, it remains unclear whether Rohit retired hurt or retired out.
Subsequently, Rohit returned to the pitch for the second Super Over after Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to score 2 runs off the final ball, resulting in another tie. This raised questions regarding Rohit’s eligibility to bat in the subsequent Super Over.
According to the ICC’s playing conditions for men’s T20Is, any batsman dismissed in a previous Super Over is ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over. The controversy stems from the lack of clarity provided by the umpires regarding whether Rohit retired hurt or retired out. If Rohit was retired hurt, he would be considered “retired not out” and would be eligible to bat again. However, if he was retired out, he would not have been eligible to come out and bat for the second time.
During the post-match presentation ceremony, Rohit expressed his overwhelming emotions after having the opportunity to bat three times in the match.
According to him, it was a rare occurrence and he couldn’t recall the last time it happened. He mentioned that he might have batted three times in one of the IPL games.
Rohit emphasized the importance of creating a partnership and revealed that he and Rinku constantly communicated with each other to maintain their intent in crucial matches. He acknowledged that it was a challenging game, but they managed to handle the pressure and bat with determination.
Additionally, Rohit highlighted the significance of batting long and deep without compromising on their desired intent. He believed that it was crucial to showcase their determination throughout the game.
Furthermore, Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran expressed his satisfaction with his team’s effort during the match.
