India concluded its T20I series against Afghanistan with a 3-0 victory, marking the return of star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. In a high-drama match in Bengaluru, a double Super Over was played to decide the result, a first in international cricket. During the Super Over, Rohit Sharma made a unique move by removing himself just before the final ball, creating confusion over whether he was retired out or retired hurt.
The controversy deepened as Rohit returned to bat when the second Super Over began, violating the rule that a player cannot return after being retired out. Afghanistan’s Karim Janat expressed his team’s perspective, stating, “Even if you were retired out, you can’t come to bat again.” He revealed that Afghanistan’s management discussed the matter with the umpires, but no action was taken.
“We didn’t know much about that. Our management talked to the umpires. Rohit came out to bat, but we learned later that he shouldn’t have been allowed to do that. We can’t do much about it now because what’s happened has happened. The captain and coach discussed about it later, but it was all between them,” Janat told Hindustan Times.
Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, hinted at minimal communication between officials and players during the episode. Trott commented, “We keep setting these new rules. What I am trying to say is we kept testing the rules, we kept testing the guidelines.” The unusual turn of events sparked a debate over Rohit’s status and the adherence to cricketing rules.