India’s final league match against Canada in the T20 World Cup 2024 got abandoned due to a wet outfield, which means the Rohit Sharma-led side will travel to Barbados to take on Afghanistan for the Super 8s without any significant practice. India topped the Group A standings with three wins in four matches on unpredictable pitches in the USA. With the Super 8s starting, India are scheduled to play Afghanistan at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on June 20. Ahead of this exciting encounter, let’s take a look at India’s probable XI against Afghanistan.
India’s probable XI for Afghanistan match:
Rohit Sharma(Captain)
With over 4000 runs in T20Is and a strike rate of 139.67, skipper Rohit Sharma is one of the best openers in the T20 format. After scoring an unbeaten half-century against Ireland in India’s tournament opener, he has had a quiet outing on a few occasions.
The explosive opener has scored 68 runs in three innings in the tournament. However, he has scored 84 runs in two innings at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown and with favorable conditions on the ground, the Hitman will be eager to return to form against Afghanistan.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has never played a T20 International at the Kensington Oval and has struggled to find form in the group stage matches of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Batting on unpredictable pitches in New York, Kohli managed to score five runs in three innings. It is said that it is just a matter of time before Kohli gets back in form and adds to his 4042 runs in T20 internationals. One must also keep in mind that the chase master has scored his only T20 century against Afghanistan and he would want to continue his dominance over them.
Rishabh Pant(Wicketkeeper)
Rishabh Pant’s return from injury from IPL 2024 has been promising and his aggressive batting and wicketkeeping ability makes him India’s first-choice wicketkeeper.
Pant has scored 1083 runs in 69 T20Is at a strike rate of 126.37 since his debut. With 96 runs in three innings at an average of 48, the left-handed batsman is currently the top scorer for India in the T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s number 1 T20 batsman, is a key player for India’s T20 World Cup 2024 team. His unconventional approach to batting at number 4 provides both aggression and finesse to India’s middle order.
Sky’s crucial half-century against the USA brought back the confidence in the Indian camp and then they won the match easily. Indian fans will hope that the aggressive batsman will be at his best against Afghanistan.
shivam dubey
Shivam Dube performed brilliantly for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024, scoring 396 runs at a strike rate of 162.30. His power-hitting and medium-pace bowling offer versatility and options to the Indian team.
After a slow start in the T20 World Cup, his crucial 31-run knock against the USA helped the left-hander find some form ahead of the Super-8 clashes and he will be eager to continue his momentum against Afghanistan.
hardik pandya
Hardik had a mixed IPL season with Mumbai Indians. He was not very good with the bat, but he did take 11 wickets. However, his role as a finisher and medium pace bowler provides balance to the Indian team.
The all-rounder has taken seven wickets in three innings at an economy of 5.41 and is one of the highest wicket-takers for India in the T20 World Cup 2024. Even though he hasn’t been able to do much with the bat in the current tournament, Hardik plays a vital role in the team and it is only a matter of time when we see him in his best form.
ravindra jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round abilities provide depth to India’s starting XI in the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, the star all-rounder has failed to live up to expectations in his three matches so far.
The left-hander got out on a golden duck against Pakistan in the only time he got to bat in this tournament. With a lot at stake for him as a lower-order batsman, Jadeja will be looking to score some runs against Afghanistan.
Axar Patel
Bowling all-rounder Axar Patel had a good outing in IPL 2024 ahead of the T20 World Cup. The left-arm spinner took 11 wickets in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy of 7.65.
Axar has taken 52 T20 wickets in 55 matches for India and on his day he is a fine spinner in the white-ball format. Interestingly, he has taken a wicket in each league game in this tournament and he could prove to be a useful option against Afghanistan, while also being capable of scoring some runs with the bat.
Jasprit Bumrah
With an excellent economy rate of 4.09, Jasprit Bumrah has taken five wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024 and is currently leading India’s bowling unit, having won the Player of the Match awards twice. His class against Pakistan was a sight to behold and he is not a bowler any batsman in the world would be eager to face.
The deadly pacer has carried his IPL 2024 form into the T20 World Cup as well and will look to continue being India’s X-factor player as he looks to add another wicket to his 79 T20I wickets when he faces Afghanistan.
Arshdeep Singh
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh also had a remarkable IPL 2024 campaign and the pacer has replicated a similar performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup by providing consistent early breakthroughs for India.
With an economy of 6.25, Arshdeep has taken seven wickets for India in the tournament. He registered his best bowling performance (4/9) in T20Is against USA in India’s previous match and will look to build on his impressive performance against Afghanistan.
mohammed siraj
Mohammed Siraj did not perform well in India’s first T20 World Cup 2024 match against Ireland, taking just one wicket with an impressive economy rate of 4.3. He could be benched for the match against Afghanistan, while Kuldeep Yadav could be included in the playing XI in his place.
India’s probable playing XI against Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dubey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
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