India’s sensational victory over Afghanistan in the third and final T20I in Bangalore on Wednesday is already part of cricketing folklore. However, the game will also be remembered for a controversial incident during Afghanistan’s first Super Over.
Off the last ball of the first Super Over, Mohammed Nabi failed to connect a wide yorker from Mukesh Kumar. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the non-striker, ‘stole’ a single even as wicketkeeper Sanju Samson threw ball back to the bowler instead of targeting the stumps at his end.
In a further twist, the ball hit Nabi on the leg and deflected towards the long-on region and in the commotion, the Afghan batters completed three runs. India captain Rohit Sharma was furious and had a heated exchange with Nabi.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra India had no reason to complain.
“A bye was taken off the last ball. Sanju Samson threw the ball, it hit Nabi’s leg and they ran two extra runs. One was available and India gave one because they were complaining about the spirit of the game. India were wrong in complaining. You could have restricted them to two runs and you conceded a third just like that,” Chopra said.
This overthrow controversy was similar to what went down in the 2019 World Cup final. England needed 9 off 3 balls when a throw from a New Zealand fielder deflected off Ben Stokes’s bat and reached the boundary. The game eventually ended in a tie before England won the Super Over.
Aakash Chopra pointed out there would have been little hue and cry had the World Cup been on stake.
“My question is, assuming had it been the last ball of a World Cup final and the extra run you were getting after the ball hit the pads was deciding the match, would anyone not run there? Would anyone be ready to lose the World Cup by not taking that run because it is ethically incorrect? Everyone would have run,” Chopra added.
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