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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jun 20, 2024, 16:20:02 IST
India vs Afghanistan, Super 8 T20 WC Live Score: Virat Kohli, eager to return to form after a dry spell, and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, hoping for an opportunity, will be in focus as India, the favorites, take on Afghanistan in their opening Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup today. The main point of discussion ahead of the game is the composition of the Indian team. According to PTI, India must decide whether to stick with the same line-up that succeeded in the group stage or include their top spinner from the past year, Kuldeep Yadav, possibly at the expense of a fast bowler. At the tournament's outset, captain Rohit Sharma expressed interest in playing all four all-rounders—Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. This approach has worked in the bowler-friendly conditions in New York, and Rohit is likely to stick with the team that extends their batting until number 8. To accommodate Kuldeep, India would need to drop either Mohammed Siraj or Arshdeep Singh, with Siraj being the more likely candidate to be benched. Recent practice sessions suggest the pitch may favor spinners, strengthening Kuldeep's case. Additionally, a gentle breeze at Kensington Oval could assist pacers in swinging the ball during the powerplay. All eyes will be on Kohli, who has yet to score double digits in the tournament. His aggressive approach did not pay off in New York, but he is expected to excel on the better wickets in the Caribbean. At 35, Kohli is known for his high intensity and dedication, as demonstrated during training sessions. Afghanistan arrived at the Super 8s following a heavy defeat to the West Indies in St Lucia. Their previously dominant bowling attack was dismantled by the powerful West Indies batting lineup. Captain Rashid Khan dismissed the loss as a minor setback, maintaining that Afghanistan still has a strong chance of reaching the semifinals. "As a bowler, you need to come up with plans to keep the scoring to under 10. The morale is still pretty high and this loss does not affect us. We have achieved our first goal of reaching the Super 8s and now it is about taking the next step," Rashid said. Rashid will rely heavily on left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who has been prolific in the powerplay and is the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets. Farooqi's ability to swing the ball back in will be a significant challenge for Rohit and Kohli. Rashid himself will aim to take wickets while maintaining a low economy rate during the middle overs. Squads: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj. Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), 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. Match starts at 8pm (IST).
AFG vs IND: Afghanistan lost their final group game
Afghanistan, on the other hand, head into the Super 8 fixtures after a humbling loss to the West Indies in St Lucia. Their bowling attack, which allowed them to boss their first three games, was put to sword by the hard-hitting West Indies batters. Captain Rashid Khan saw the defeat as a blip in an otherwise impressive campaign, insisting that his team remains a worthy contender for a semifinal berth.
IND vs AFG: Head-to-Head
Afghanistan vs India: India bowlers are in form
On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh has grown in confidence with each passing game, playing perfect wingman to Jasprit Bumrah in both the powerplay and death overs. With the surface likely to aid the slower bowlers, Axar and Jadeja would be backing themselves to make a decisive impact in the game.
Afghanistan vs India: Time for India batters to shine
Shivam Dube, who was brought into the side to hammer sixes in the middle and death overs, has sent the ball out of the park only once in this competition. The pitches in USA did not allow him to go after the spinners. He would be expected to change that in the Super 8s and beyond. India's premier T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav too was back among runs against USA, albeit not in his usual swashbuckling style. But the effort was enough to boost his confidence. Besides Kohli, runs are pending from the bat of Hardik Pandya, who has been exceptional with the ball.
Afghanistan vs India: Eyes on Virat Kohli
As is often the case, all eyes will be on Kohli, who is yet to log a double digit score in the tournament. His strategy to go for his strokes did not yield the desired results in New York but he is expected to be at his imperious best on the better wickets in the Caribbean. The 35-year-old is always operating at 100 per cent and the intensity he showed during the training sessions was a testament to his exemplary work ethic.
AFG vs IND: Will Kuldeep Yadav play today?
At the start of the tournament, skipper Rohit Sharma had expressed his keenness to include all four all-rounders -- Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja -- in the playing eleven. That strategy suited the Indian team in the bowler-friendly conditions in New York and the captain is expected to retain the winning combination that stretches their batting till number 8. The only way to fit Kuldeep into the team is to either drop Mohammed Siraj or Arshdeep Singh for the wily spinner. If that does happen, Siraj is most likely to be benched. If the two practice sessions of the Indian team are an indication, the pitch could offer plenty to the spinners making Kuldeep's case stronger. With the gentle breeze blowing across the Kensington Oval, the pacers should get the ball to swing in the powerplay.
AFG vs IND: The big talking point today
Virat Kohli will be expected to hit his straps after a lean run while left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav will anxiously wait for his chance when title-favourites India face a sprightly Afghanistan in their opening Super 8 fixture of the T20 World Cup here on Thursday today. The big talking point ahead of the game is the Indian team combination. Will India go in with the same line-up that worked for them in the group league stage or bring in their best spinner over the last 12 months, Kuldeep, at the expense of a specialist pacer now?
AFG vs IND: Hello & Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the T20 World Cup Super Eights match between India and Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown in Barbados. It is the Match No. 43 of the ongoing tournament. First match for both the teams in the second round of the tournament and they will be looking for a positive start in it. India are unbeaten so far and topped their group, while Afghanistan came into the Super 8 after finishing second in their group, behind co-hosts West Indies.
English (US) ·