February 26, 2025: Ibrahim Zadran played a match-winning role for Afghanistan, leading his team to a formidable total of 325 runs in their Champions Trophy 2025 match. The 22-year-old opening batter played a scintillating knock, amassing a brilliant 120 runs off 98 balls, which laid the foundation for Afghanistan’s strong innings.
Zadran’s knock featured 13 boundaries and 4 sixes, showcasing his versatility and ability to dominate both the pacers and spinners. His innings was the highlight of the Afghanistan batting effort, as he found the perfect balance between aggression and control. The partnership he built with Rahmat Shah, who contributed with a solid 45 runs, was crucial in Afghanistan’s quest to post a big total.
Afghanistan’s middle order contributed steadily, with contributions from the likes of Hashmatullah Shahidi (38), and skipper Mohammad Nabi (32), ensuring that the team reached the target comfortably. The innings was further bolstered by late fireworks from the lower order, with a quick cameo by Najibullah Zadran, who added 27 runs off just 16 balls to push the score past 325.
On the bowling front, the Afghanistan team was led by their experienced pacer, Naveen-ul-Haq, who bowled in tight spells and picked up crucial wickets. However, it was Zadran’s leadership at the top of the order that gave Afghanistan the much-needed momentum, leaving the opposition with a tough task in their chase.
This remarkable effort from Zadran and his team left fans excited and hopeful for the remainder of the tournament as Afghanistan now looks poised to make a deep run in the Champions Trophy. With such performances, the Afghan side has shown that they are more than capable of competing against the world’s best teams in the high-pressure format of the Champions Trophy.