India vs Afghanistan Predicted Team XI
Source: Google
India is set to clash with Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup’s ninth match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Both teams have experienced different fortunes at the start of the tournament, with India securing a victory against Australia in Chennai, while Afghanistan suffered a six-wicket loss to Bangladesh.
In head-to-head encounters, India holds the upper hand, having won two out of three matches, with one ending in a draw. Their only previous meeting in the 2019 ODI World Cup saw Afghanistan falling short of a 225-run target, resulting in an 11-run loss.
Here’s a preview of the expected lineup for the India vs Afghanistan match:
Opening Pair and Middle Order
Opener Shubman Gill, currently sidelined due to dengue, will continue to be absent. Therefore, the opening combination is likely to feature Ishan Kishan partnering with skipper Rohit Sharma. The middle order is set to be anchored by Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul. Despite Iyer’s recent duck against Australia, the coaching staff remains confident in his role as India’s designated No. 4.
Shardul Thakur for R. Ashwin?
The key question revolves around whether India will maintain their winning combination or opt for a horses-for-courses approach in Delhi. In the previous match, India’s spin trio of R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav collectively claimed six wickets with an economical performance. However, the Delhi pitch favored the batsmen in the last game, prompting consideration of including Shardul Thakur for Ashwin, aiming for additional pace.
Will Mohammed Shami Get an Opportunity?
Concerns about the tournament’s duration and the fitness of India’s pacers, as expressed by Rohit Sharma, may lead to the inclusion of Mohammed Shami while giving Siraj or Bumrah a much-needed rest. Alternatively, Ashwin could make way for Shami, adding an extra dimension to the pace attack.
India vs Afghanistan Weather Report
Weather conditions are expected to remain clear throughout the duration of the match, with no chance of rain.
India vs Afghanistan Pitch Report
The pitch in Delhi, revamped after this year’s IPL, has regained its reputation as a challenging wicket. It may not be overly favorable to either side, potentially negating Afghanistan’s spin strength.
India vs Afghanistan Expected Playing XIs
India Predicted XI:
Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Afghanistan Predicted XI:
Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
India vs Afghanistan Squads
India Squad:
Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur
Afghanistan Squad:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Rahman, Riaz Hassan, Noor Ahmad
