India vs Afghanistan: India will take on Afghanistan in their first Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2024. India is considered one of the top contenders for the title, while Afghanistan is known for their fighting spirit. The game is set to take place on Thursday, June 20th.
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India vs Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India’s opening batsmen, are anticipated to bounce back from their recent poor performance during the USA leg of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the tournament moves to Barbados. On Thursday, June 20, India, considered one of the top contenders, will take on a spirited Afghanistan team in their first Super Eight match. The key topics of discussion leading up to the game are India’s opening partnership and the chances of Kuldeep Yadav playing in this particular match.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA presented a tough challenge for not only the Indian batsmen but also for all the players participating. Scoring runs was a difficult task in New York due to the seam bowlers taking advantage of the favorable conditions. Despite the challenging circumstances, both Kohli and Rohit should have delivered better performances. Although the Indian skipper managed to score a half-century, Kohli faced difficulties in adjusting to his new role and failed to reach double figures in his last three innings.
Kohli’s recent performance is becoming a real worry, with scores of 0, 4, and 1 in his last three matches. Nevertheless, Vikram Rathour, the batting coach, is still hopeful that Kohli will regain his form. He confidently stated, “I’m not worried at all. Kohli has been batting exceptionally well since the IPL. A couple of dismissals won’t affect his overall performance; he’s still in great shape.”
Kohli and Rohit both attended extra practice sessions, putting in a lot of effort in the nets to get ready for the challenge presented by Afghanistan’s left-arm bowlers, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi. They practiced against deliveries from Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh, as well as some specialized throwdowns.
They were definitely putting in the work and getting ready with full dedication, but their main goal wasn’t the Afghanistan or Bangladesh matches. Their main focus was on the final Super 8 game against tough opponents Australia on June 24.
India’s got a big decision to make. Should they stick with the winning team from the group stage or bring in Kuldeep Yadav, their top spinner in the last year? If they choose Kuldeep, either Mohammed Siraj or Arshdeep Singh might have to step aside, and it’s more likely to be Siraj.
India’s choice of players will definitely lead to an exciting game. They are focused on continuing their winning streak and defending their impressive track record against Afghanistan. In contrast, Afghanistan is no longer seen as a weaker cricketing nation and poses a significant challenge to any opponent.
Despite a recent defeat to the West Indies, their victory over New Zealand showcased their ability to upset top teams, establishing them as a formidable competitor in the tournament.
India vs Afghanistan Pitch Report
The batting conditions in Barbados are predicted to be better than those in New York. The pitch at Kensington Oval has always been favorable for fast bowlers. Looking at the trend of this World Cup, it seems like pace bowlers might have an advantage in the upcoming match. Moreover, spinners who can bowl faster deliveries might also find some success on this surface.
India vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head
India has a flawless track record against Afghanistan in T20Is, emerging victorious in all seven previous matches, including three in the T20 World Cup.
India vs Afghanistan Squads:
India’s squad includes: Rohit Sharma as captain, Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, & Mohammad Siraj.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Ishaq, Nangeyalia Kharote.
Toss time
The showdown between the Asian powerhouses is set for 08:00PM IST, while the coin toss will happen at 07:30PM.