Watch: Rohit Sharma flicked Shaheen Afridi for a nonchalant six in the first over of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in New York today (June 9), becoming the first batter to do so against Afridi in the first over of a T20I innings.
India were put into bat by Pakistan after rain delayed the start of the game by an hour. Rohit Sharma walked out to open the innings along with Virat Kohli, as he had promised ahead of the game at the pre-match press conference.
Rohit hits a record six
Rohit faced up to Shaheen Afridi, who trudged up to bowl an overpitched ball on the stumps, as he usually does first up. Rohit flicked it for two, before defending a back of length ball that came next.
However, the first real action of the game happened on the third ball, when Shaheen hit a good length on off stump. Rohit planted his frontfoot across and picked up the ball over square leg, where the fielder protecting the boundary could only watch the ball sail over the ropes.
That was the first ever six that Shaheen conceded in the first over of an innings in his T20I career.
In the 2023 Asia Cup, Rohit had become the first batter to hit Shaheen for a six in the first over of the innings in ODIs with a similar shot.
Shaheen has the final laugh
After another delay of close to half an hour, the Indian openers returned for the second over of the innings. Kohli was dismissed, trying to cut a Naseem Shah delivery over point in the second over.
Shaheen returned for the third and bowled three dot balls to Rohit to start with. Bogged down, Rohit tried to repeat the stroke that fetched him six in the first over on the fourth ball, but didn't get enough power behind it this time as the deep square leg fielder took an easy catch to send the India captain packing.
Rohit was dismissed for 13 off 12. India sent Axat Patel at No.4, perhaps in an attempt to protect Suryakumar Yadav against the new ball.
Watch Rohit Sharma hit a six and get out to Shaheen Afridi with the same shot:
Six:
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Wicket:
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