During a conversation at the DP World ILT20, Afghanistan’s Karim Janat, who participated in the third T20I against India, shared his thoughts on the unique Double Super Over match. India concluded its final T20I series before the World Cup against Afghanistan, securing a 3-0 series victory. The series marked the comeback of two key players, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. While Kohli had a mixed performance in his two matches, Rohit showcased a remarkable comeback with a career-best score of 121* in the last game. The Bengaluru match witnessed intense drama, culminating in a double Super Over, marking a historic first in international cricket.
The Super Over took a peculiar twist when Rohit Sharma made an unconventional decision by opting to exclude himself from the first over, right before its last ball. In a crucial moment with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease and India requiring 2 runs for victory, Rohit voluntarily withdrew to allow the faster Rinku Singh, batting third in the order for the over, to take his place. Nevertheless, ambiguity surfaced regarding whether Rohit was deemed retired out or retired hurt, sparking a discussion on his playing status.
The controversy escalated due to the Super Over rule, which explicitly states that once a batter is retired out, they are not permitted to resume play. Despite this regulation, Rohit Sharma reappeared to bat as the second Super Over began, fueling the ongoing debate about the nature of his earlier departure. Afghanistan’s captain, Ibrahim Zadran, entered into a heated discussion with the umpires upon Rohit’s return; however, play resumed once Rohit assumed the batting position.
Several days after the match, Afghanistan’s Karim Janat, a participant in the third T20I, shed light on his team’s perspective on the unfolding events. Janat contended that Rohit should not have been permitted to return to the crease, citing the rules that explicitly prohibit such a comeback.
“We were not aware of that. Our management spoke to the umpires. Rohit came out to bat, but we later found out that he shouldn’t have been allowed to do so. Even if you are retired out, you can’t resume your batting innings. We can’t alter what has already transpired. The captain and coach discussed it later, but it was a matter between them,” Karim Janat conveyed to Hindustan Times during an interaction on the sidelines of the DP World ILT20 in the UAE. Interestingly, Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, hinted at minimal communication between officials and players during the entire episode.
“I have no idea whether Rohit retired hurt or out. Has there ever been two Super Overs? That’s what I am trying to say. We keep introducing these new rules. What I am trying to say is we kept testing the rules, we kept testing the guidelines,” remarked Trott in the post-match press conference.
Another fleeting controversy surfaced during the first Super Over when Mohammad Nabi, the seasoned Afghanistan all-rounder, gathered three byes from a deflection off his body. On the final delivery, Nabi missed a shot but proceeded to run, prompting wicketkeeper Sanju Samson to attempt a run-out. The ball deflected off Nabi and headed towards Virat Kohli at long-on; the Afghanistan player then secured two more runs, leading to a disagreement with Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain approached Nabi and engaged in a discussion, but Janat insisted that Nabi’s approach was legitimate.
“It was a miscommunication. When a batter is running, and someone throws from behind, he wouldn’t know where the ball is coming from. Even in the first T20I, there were five runs awarded when the ball deflected off Gill’s bat. The batter wasn’t at fault here,” explained the Afghanistan bowler.
After the final T20I against India, Karim Janat headed to the UAE to participate in the ILT20, representing the Gulf Giants. The 2024 edition marks Janat’s debut in the league, and he emphasizes the goal of aiding the Giants in defending their title.
“This is my first season in DP World ILT20, so it will be a new experience for me. However, I’m part of a champion team. We will aim to replicate our performance. Adapting to the conditions can be a bit challenging. Managing the travel is part of being a cricketer, and maintaining fitness is crucial,” remarked Janat.
