T20 World Cup 2024, India vs Afghanistan: Key battles to watch in high-stakes Super 8 clash

T20 World Cup 2024, India vs Afghanistan: India will face Afghanistan in their first Super Eight match of the ICC T20 World Cup today at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The match, scheduled for Thursday, June 20th, promises an exciting encounter between two in-form teams.

AP

India enters this game with strong momentum, having won three of their four group-stage matches, with one match washed out due to rain. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team is keen to build on this success and progress further in the tournament.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, has had an impressive run, finishing second in their group with six points from four games. They secured victories against Uganda, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, demonstrating their capability to challenge top teams.

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India is favoured to finish in the top two and advance to the semi-finals for the second consecutive edition. However, the stakes are high, and the competition is intense. Rohit Sharma's men must not underestimate Afghanistan, who have proven to be formidable opponents.

Key Battles to Watch

Rohit Sharma vs Fazalhaq Farooqi

Afghanistan's left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi has been outstanding, taking over 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup so far. He poses a significant challenge to Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who has had difficulties against left-arm pacers. Farooqi has dismissed Rohit once in three T20 innings, with the Indian captain managing just four runs off 12 balls against him.

Virat Kohli vs Naveen-ul-Haq

The rivalry between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq has been a focal point since their controversial encounter in the 2023 Indian Premier League season. Although the off-field tensions have settled, the on-field battle remains intriguing. Naveen has dismissed Kohli once in three T20 innings, but Kohli boasts a healthy strike rate of 169.23 against him.

India¡¯s Middle Order vs Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has been a consistent wicket-taker in the ongoing T20 World Cup, averaging 16.50 with the ball. He will be crucial in tackling India's middle order, particularly Suryakumar Yadav, who has yet to be dismissed by Rashid in T20 cricket and strikes at 148.27 against him. Rashid's ability to take key wickets in the middle overs will test Indian batters like Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, and Suryakumar Yadav.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Jasprit Bumrah

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been instrumental in Afghanistan's strong starts, ranking among the top three run-scorers with 167 runs at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 150.45. His experience in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders makes him a significant threat. Jasprit Bumrah, India's standout bowler, will be key in dismissing Gurbaz early. Bumrah's performance, especially against Pakistan, highlights his impact and importance in this match.

India¡¯s Probable XI

India is likely to field: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh/Mohammed Siraj.

ANI

Afghanistan¡¯s Strategy

Afghanistan is expected to stick with the team that defeated New Zealand, despite their recent loss to West Indies. The players will aim to bring their best performance against India, seeking redemption and a strong start in the Super Eight stage.

The encounter at Kensington Oval promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams vying for a crucial win to boost their chances of advancing in the tournament.

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