In a spectacular display of batting prowess, India's captain, Rohit Sharma, delivered a record-breaking performance, leading his team to a resounding eight-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 match held in Delhi.

Afghanistan, choosing to bat, posted a competitive total of 272 for eight. The foundation for their innings was set by Hasmatullah Shahidi's gritty 80 and the young Azmatullah Omarazai's courageous 62.

However, India's response was led by Rohit Sharma's masterful batting. Rohit's 131 runs from just 84 balls showcased his extraordinary range of strokes and was nothing short of a cricketing masterpiece. This was Rohit's record seventh century in World Cup matches, and he achieved it in just 63 balls. His stunning innings enabled India to chase down the target of 273 in only 35 overs, significantly improving their net run-rate ahead of their highly anticipated World Cup fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14.

Rohit's aggressive intent was clear from the start as he walked down the track to launch a flat six over wide long-off in the fifth over, reaching 1000 World Cup runs in the process. Notably, it was the fastest hundred by an Indian in the history of the 50-over World Cup.

Throughout his innings, Rohit was ably supported by Ishan Kishan, who scored 47 runs off 47 balls and witnessed Rohit's artistry from the non-striker's end.

Rohit Sharma, with his six-hitting prowess and elegant strokeplay, mesmerized the crowd at Feroz Shah Kotla. His total of 16 boundaries and five sixes was a testament to his sublime form and dominance over the Afghan bowlers.

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While Rashid Khan was the only Afghan bowler to make an impact, claiming the wickets of both Kishan and Rohit, the game was decidedly in India's favor as they raced to 154 runs in just 18 overs.

Rohit's brilliant century and Virat Kohli's unbeaten 55 off 56 balls ensured a comfortable win for India. The camaraderie displayed by Kohli and Afghanistan's Naveen-ul-Haq during the chase indicated a sense of sportsmanship and respect, a positive sign for the cricketing world.

Earlier in the match, Afghanistan had shown a significant improvement in their batting performance compared to their tournament opener against Bangladesh, thanks to Shahidi's 121-run partnership with Omarzai.

In response, India's bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, did a commendable job to restrict Afghanistan to a challenging but achievable total. Bumrah was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 4 for 39, his best in a World Cup game.

Overall, it was a thrilling contest that showcased the best of cricket, and Rohit Sharma's record-breaking century will be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament.