Controversy emerged in the T20I super over between India and Afghanistan today (January 17) when Virat Kohli refused to throw the ball to the stumps in protest over the batters taking overthrow runs off a deflection.

The match was reaching its climax after Afghanistan chased down 212 off the final ball of the innings. Gulbadin Naib hit an unbeaten half-century to take the game into a super over after Rohit Sharma earlier hit a century to set the tourists a high target. Afghanistan sent out Gulbadin straight back out to face the super over, but he was run out by Kohli off the first ball.

Four balls into the over with Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the crease, Afghanistan had only managed to score seven runs, and looked like they would only have a small total to defend. Nabi then blasted a six off Mukesh Kumar’s fifth ball to take the score to 13. Off the final ball of the over, Nabi missed a wide yorker from Mukesh, but ran through to attempt to take a bye.

However, Sanju Samson’s throw to the other end deflected off Nabi as he ran through. The ball ricocheted off Nabi’s legs and trickled out to Kohli at long on. Clearly having expected the batters not to take any runs off the overthrow, Kohli jogged in to pick the ball up. But, the batters continued to run, taking another two before the ball was eventually thrown in.

The India players were clearly unhappy with the batters’ decision to keep running, with Rohit remonstrating with the umpires and Kohli putting his foot on the ball instead of fielding it, and gesturing towards the middle. Afghanistan ended the super over having scored 16 runs.

The drama wasn’t over, after India were only able to score another 16 off their over, and the match went to another super over. India won that to seal a 3-0 series win.

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.