IND vs AFG Match Preview
With Virat Kohli returning to the team, Shubman Gill may have to sit out, despite his brilliant performance in the previous game. The coach has shown confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal, who will join Kohli in the top-3. It is a hard decision, but Gill has to make way for the captain.
India has a formidable batting line-up, but they may face some challenges against the spinners. The presence of Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh adds some firepower and variety to the Indian side, while Jitesh Sharma keeps proving his worth with every chance he gets.
Axar Patel is a reliable all-rounder who can bat at number seven and provide some balance to the team.
India’s bowlers were excellent in the first match, except for Ravi Bishnoi, who had a tough time in the cold conditions. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar were the stars of the show and could be the key players in the next match as well.
India might opt for Kuldeep Yadav instead of Ravi Bishnoi for this match, to strengthen their spin department.
Afghanistan’s bowlers had a tough time against Shivam Dube in the last match. They tried to bounce him out, but they lacked the speed to execute that strategy. They missed Rashid Khan badly, but they also made a mistake by not selecting Noor Ahmed.
Mujeeb ur Rahman was the only bright spot for Afghanistan. He bowled a tight spell, taking two wickets and conceding only 21 runs. On the other hand, Naveen ul Haq was very expensive, giving away 43 runs in 3.3 overs without any success.
Afghanistan seemed clueless and will have to improve their bowling performance in this match.
Another problem for Afghanistan is their batting. Ibramhim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave them a good start, scoring 50 runs without losing a wicket, but the rest of the batsmen failed to build on it.
They also played too cautiously, which showed their lack of faith in their own batting abilities. Mohammad Nabi was the exception, scoring a quick 42 and showing some positive intent.
Afghanistan was nowhere near the level required to compete with India and we doubt they will fare any better in a high-scoring ground like Indore.
Weather Report
Clear weather and comfortable temperatures are expected in Indore on match day. There should be absolutely no weather-related interruptions.
Pitch Report
The pitch at Indore should be an absolute batting paradise. The ball will come on nicely to the bat, the size of the ground is small, and the outfield will be very fast. All of this means that you can expect a higher-scoring match than the first game.
Notable stats
Shivam Dube: International All-rounder?
Dube picked up one wicket and also scored a match-winning fifty in the previous match. If he can improve his bowling, his six-hitting prowess may make him a genuine option for India in the long term.
Team News
Virat Kohli will return to the Indian team for this match.
IND vs AFG Probable 11
IND Playing 11
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Virat Kohli
- Shivam Dube
- Rinku Singh
- Jitesh Sharma (Wk)
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Washington Sundar
- Mukesh Kumar
AFG Playing 11
- Ibrahim Zadran (C)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wk)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Rahmat Shah
- Mohammad Nabi
- Najibullah Zadran
- Karim Janat
- Gulbadin Naib
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Mujeeb ur Rahman
Dream11 Prediction
We think India will win this match and that batters from both sides will make merry on a high-scoring Indore surface.
Top Picks
IND vs AFG Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: R Gurbaz (VC), I Alikhil
Batters: R Sharma, R Singh, S Gill, I Zadran, Y Jaiswal (C)
All-rounders: A Patel, A Omarzai
Bowlers: M Kumar, Naveen ul Haq
