Rohit Sharma shouldn't have been allowed to bat again in the Super Over: Karim Janat

In the final T20I series before the World Cup, Team India clinched a resounding 3-0 victory against Afghanistan, marking a triumphant return for captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after a 14-month hiatus. While Kohli had a mixed performance, Rohit showcased his prowess with a career-best 121* in the thrilling finale, where a unique double Super Over unfolded, making history in international cricket.

The drama peaked in the first Super Over when Rohit Sharma, in an unprecedented move, stepped aside just before the final ball, allowing Rinku Singh to take his place at the non-striker's end The controversy ignited over Rohit's status, whether retired out or hurt, as per Super Over rules. Despite objections, Rohit returned to bat in the second Super Over, intensifying the debate.

Afghanistan's Karim Janat shed light on his team's perspective, stating, “We didn’t know much about that. Our management talked to the umpires. Rohit came out to bat, but we learned later that he shouldn't have been allowed to do that. Even if you were retired out, you can’t come to bat again. We can’t do much about it now because what’s happened has happened. The captain and coach discussed about it later, but it was all between them,” Janat told Hindustan Times.

Afghanistan's coach, Jonathan Trott, expressed confusion during the post-match press meet, saying, “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 setting these new rules. What I am trying to say is we kept testing the rules, we kept testing the guidelines,” Trott had said in the post-match press conference.

A separate controversy unfolded in the first Super Over when Mohammad Nabi ran three byes from a deflection off his body, leading to a heated exchange between Rohit Sharma and Nabi. Janat defended Nabi, attributing it to a misunderstanding.

“It was a misunderstanding. If 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 was deflected off Gill’s bat. The batter wasn’t at the fault here,” said the Afghanistan bowler.

This is my first season in ILT20, so this will be a new experience for me: Janat

Post the T20I series, Janat joined the Gulf Giants in the ILT20 in the UAE. As a debutant in the league, Janat aims to aid the Giants in defending their title, navigating the challenges of adapting to new conditions and managing travel fatigue.

“This is my first season in ILT20, so this will be a new experience for me. But I’m in a champion team. So, we will try to perform similarly. It is a little difficult to adapt to conditions. You have to manage the travelling. But, as a cricketer, you have to do that. You have to maintain the fitness,” said Janat.