'There's so much passion and emotion when you play for country' - Rahul Dravid downplays Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Nabi tussle in third T20I

In a thrilling clash between India and Afghanistan during the third T20I in Bangalore, an intense moment unfolded at the end of the first super over. After a tied 20 overs, the teams engaged in a one-over showdown to determine the winner. As Afghanistan stood at 13 for 1 after five balls, a crucial incident took place. Mohammad Nabi attempted a bye after missing a yorker from Mukesh Kumar, and a throw from wicketkeeper Sanju Samson deflected off Nabi's pads to Virat Kohli at long-on.

Controversially, the batters managed to sneak in two extra runs, much to the displeasure of Rohit Sharma. Following the on-field drama, a heated exchange took place between Rohit and Nabi which raised eyebrows among fans. However, Team India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, downplayed the altercation during the press conference. Dravid acknowledged the incident but emphasised the competitive nature of the game.

"It's fine. It's part of the game. Some frustrations at times can happen but it is okay. It hit the non-striker and then it moved and I think it is fine, you know, you can run for those. To be honest, in the first T20I there was an incident where it hit the bat of our batsman and we ran a run as well. I think there's nothing to read into, there's nothing in the rules that stops you from actually running those runs. That's fine, it's part of the game," Dravid said as quoted by NDTV.

"It can happen at the end. I think sometimes when you play for your country, there's so much passion and emotion. I think it is incredible that even in dead-rubber games when it gets down to the wire, that competitiveness comes out, that passion comes out," he added.

India snatch victory in second Super Over 

Dravid acknowledged the intensity between the teams, and saw the controversial moment as a display of healthy passion for the sport, emphasising the need for it to remain within limits. However, as the sides swiftly shifted focus to the second Super Over, the extra runs proved inconsequential for Afghanistan. Despite their efforts, India managed to level the scores at 16 in their batting stint, forcing a second Super Over. Ultimately, India emerged triumphant and clinched victory by a margin of 10 runs in a thrilling encounter.