Afghanistan wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad set the stage on fire with a swashbuckling century against India in the dead rubber of the Super Four clash of this Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, the men in blues went with a couple of changes in this dead rubber. They wanted to give their full squad a chance to play in this six-nation tournament.
However, the most eye-grabbing sight was when MS Dhoni came out in the middle for the toss. It was a nostalgic vision for the cricket lovers as Dhoni has been one of the best captains India have ever produced. Moreover, he is the only captain to win three ICC Trophies.
( READ MORE – Highest run scorer of Asia cup 2018 )
The tides, however, soon shifted from MS Dhoni to an ardent follower of his. Mohammad Shahzad took the young India bowling unit by storm smashing them all over the park. He smashed debutant Deepak Chahar for 24 runs in two overs.
Although wickets kept on falling on end, Shahzad went on with his onslaught. So much so, renowned bowlers like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav couldn’t even stop him from playing his shots. Afghanistan lost four wickets from one end with the spinner coming down heavily on the inexperience batters.
But Mohammad Shahzad looked unperturbed by that as he cleaned the boundary ropes with ease. However, he looked careful after reaching the nervous nineties. Furthermore, he brought his hundred with a boundary in just 88 deliveries including six over boundaries and 10 fours.
Meanwhile, Shahzad has an uphill task at hand as he will have to continues scoring to help his team post a respectable total on the scoreboard.
Here is how the Twitter reacted to the swashbuckling century of Mohammad Shahzad:
Size doesn't matter, but the size of score matters! ? Someone who backed his game, more than worrying about his size! Way to go! Brilliant hundred @MShahzad077! ? #INDvAFG #AsiaCup2018
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 25, 2018
5th Odi ? for @MShahzad077,
1st vs ??,
8th in List A cricket,
3rd in Asia,
1st in 2018,
2nd under Asghar Stanikzai,
1st in #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2018 #INDvAFG— Akhil Gupta ? (@Guptastats92) September 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/NChouhan_/status/1044576361094930433
https://twitter.com/sukhveerpunia45/status/1044576169830449152
What an inning played by @mohammadshahzad
— Vinod ANAND (@VinodAN22552993) September 25, 2018
Mohammad Shahzad has taken ‘one man army’ to a whole new level #INDvsAFG #AsiaCup2018
— Fazal (@fzlmuneer) September 25, 2018
Mohammad shahzad ??? #INDvAFG
— Sanaa? (@Bepannaaholic) September 25, 2018
Kya shaandaar innings kele aaye Mohammad Shahzad ? #Shahzad #Dhoni #INDvAFG
— Vvs Laxman ? (@SirVvsLaxman) September 25, 2018
This game is already an all-time classic for fans of stats, and in particular lopsided stats (paging @benjonescricket, @franklycricket and others).
• Mohammad Shahzad: 95 off 78, RPO 7.31
• Everyone else: 11 off 56, RPO 1.18#AsiaCup18 #AFGvIND
?????@guerillacricket— Nakul Pande (@NakulMPande) September 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/DilipSubramani/status/1044575418798358528
https://twitter.com/riteshchoubey26/status/1044575244176912384
Indian ceicket team is always an Indian cricket team whether all the big names are rested ,it does'nt mean.Whoever is playing against them and performing good should be appreciated and recognised,appreciate the batting nd fighting of Mohammad Shahzad #CBhaveyoursay #Cricbuzzlive
— Vineet (@Vineet81487626) September 25, 2018
Shahjad feeling nervous 90's?? #INDvAFG
— vijay (@nilagiritahr) September 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sidhu_Atam/status/1044577283762049025
Look at the scores only 21 runs from other batsman and rest is made By Mohammad Shahzad?#INDvAFG
— Mazhar Ali (@mazhar5ali) September 25, 2018
Shahzad today proved 2 things
1) This pitch is good for batting even during day time
2) Bumrah-Bhuvi have been exceptional for India#IndvAfg— Wanderer (@DisDatNothin) September 25, 2018