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In the heart of Delhi, at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium, history was written in the annals of cricket as Afghanistan pulled off a monumental upset in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. On a sunny October day, the world witnessed an extraordinary turn of events as Afghanistan humbled the defending champions, England, by a stunning 69-run margin.

Afghanistan stun England in a major upset

The scene was set, the expectations were high, and the tension was palpable. England was chasing a target of 285 runs. Yet, Afghanistan’s relentless bowling attack proved too formidable for the English side, leading to their eventual downfall at just 215 runs in 40.3 overs. 

The heroes of this remarkable victory were none other than Afghanistan’s star spinners, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who each bagged three wickets. Rashid Khan’s masterful spell left England reeling, with a miserly 37 runs conceded in 9.3 overs, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman was equally impressive with figures of 3 for 51 in his 10-over quota.

But it wasn’t just about the star spinners; Afghanistan’s victory was a collective effort. Contributions from players such as Naveen-Ul-Haq, Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, and Harry Brook were instrumental. It’s worth noting that England missed the services of their key all-rounder, Ben Stokes, which may have had an impact on their performance.

In the first innings, Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 284 runs. It was a stellar batting display led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil, who amassed 80 and 58 runs, respectively. Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s quickfire 28 off 16 balls added valuable runs to their total. Adil Rashid emerged as England’s standout bowler, clinching three crucial wickets.

The cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded Afghanistan’s all-round brilliance and pointed out England’s struggle against quality spinners, suggesting that they seemed more focused on reading the deliveries off the pitch.

In a surprising twist, England’s loss to Afghanistan placed them in an unusual position. They became the first team to be defeated by all 11 Test-playing teams in a World Cup, a distinction they might not have anticipated at the outset of their campaign.

The cricketing community came together to celebrate Afghanistan’s victory as a significant milestone. It marked the end of their 14-match losing streak in World Cup matches. Furthermore, this spectacular win had far-reaching implications for the tournament standings, with Afghanistan closing in on England’s sixth-place position.