The Rematch we all have been waiting for.
Photo source: etvbharat.com
India Aims for Convincing Win Against Afghanistan in Rematch
As the Cricket World Cup 2023 unfolds, cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the showdown between India and Afghanistan, a rematch of their 2019 encounter. India, fresh off an impressive victory against five-time champions Australia in Chennai, is riding high on confidence as they head to New Delhi to take on Afghanistan.
However, India’s Men in Blue knows that Hashmatullah Shahidi’s determined Afghan team is not to be underestimated by any Indian fan. India showcased their prowess in their World Cup 2023 debut with a commanding 6-wicket win over Australia.
Despite an early wobble, losing top-order batsman and Indian captain Rohit Sharma, makeshift opener Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer for a mere 3 runs, a stellar performance from KL Rahul (97 not out) and a gritty 85 from Virat Kohli steered India to a victorious start in the tournament.
As India seeks to maintain their winning momentum, it faces Afghanistan, a team that has given them a run for their money in the past. The history between these two teams in ODIs is relatively short, with only three matches played, two of which went down to the wire.
Many International cricket enthusiasts still vividly remember the nail-biting 2019 World Cup match in Southampton when India barely escaped defeat. Rohit Sharma struggled against Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and India set a modest target of 224 for Afghanistan. The Afghan side mounted a spirited chase, reducing the required runs to 21 off 12 balls before Jasprit Bumrah and a Mohammed Shami hat-trick secured the win for India.
2018 Asia Cup,
India and Afghanistan played out a thrilling tie, with Afghanistan almost successfully defending their total of 252 with the help of senior spinners Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. Although India and Afghanistan have not played each other in a bilateral series, Afghanistan, with some experience in hosting matches in Lucknow, Dehradun, and Greater Noida, aims to improve their performance after a disappointing loss to Bangladesh.
When it comes to the pitch and conditions in Delhi, Afghanistan’s main strength lies in their spin attack, featuring talents like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and experienced Mohammad Nabi. However, the Delhi pitch might not provide them with an ideal platform to work their magic. The conditions are expected to be hot, but the pitch might not be as slow and low as those used earlier in the year during IPL 2023.
Possible Outcome
For India, there is a potential change in the lineup, with the inclusion of an extra pacer instead of a spinner. R Ashwin could make way for either Mohammed Shami or Shardul Thakur if the pitch resembles the one used in South Africa vs. Sri Lanka game.
Unfortunately for India, star opener Shubman Gill will not be available for the Delhi match as he is yet to recover from illness. In his absence, Ishan Kishan was given the opening slot but had a forgettable World Cup debut, getting out for a golden duck while chasing a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc. India is banking on Kishan to deliver, given his history of scoring big runs as an opener.
In a press conference, batting coach Vikram Rathour expressed confidence in Kishan and ruled out a shift in the batting order, despite Shreyas Iyer’s rare failure in the Chennai World Cup opener.
As the excitement builds for this much-anticipated rematch, cricket enthusiasts and fans of both India and Afghanistan are gearing up for a thrilling encounter. With the conditions and squads in focus, all eyes will be on the pitch in Delhi as the 2023 Cricket World Cup unfolds.
