IND vs AFG: The ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 is setting the cricketing world abuzz with thrilling matches. One of the matches, the 9th league game, is set to unfold today between India and Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. With India having tasted victory once and Afghanistan yet to register a win, the stakes are high for both teams.
In a surprising twist during the toss, Afghanistan won and chose to bat first. This strategic decision places India in the bowling arena, with expectations mounting on Indian bowlers to curtail Afghanistan’s batsmen early on. Their formidability and reputation make them favorites to deliver a compelling performance.
IND vs AFG: Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, explained his decisions regarding the playing XI during the post-toss interview. An interesting change in the lineup was the inclusion of Shardul Thakur over the seasoned Mohammad Shami. Sharma justified this by highlighting Thakur’s dual ability to bowl and bat, offering balance to the team. The Delhi wicket’s reputation for favoring fast bowlers further justified this decision.
On the strategic front, Sharma noted, “We aimed to bat second. Observing dew conditions from the previous evening, it’s unlikely the pitch will change significantly. Our primary objective is to bowl effectively and then chase with conviction.” Recounting the team’s recent performance against Australia, Sharma praised KL Rahul and Virat Kohli for their exceptional partnership.
Here are the Playing XIs for the clash:
India:
Rohit Sharma (captain)
Ishan Kishan
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Shardul Thakur
Jasprit Bumrah
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohammed Siraj
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Ibrahim Zadran
Rahmat Shah
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)
Mohammad Nabi
Najibullah Zadran
Azmatullah Omarzai
Rashid Khan
Naveen Ul-Haq
Mujeeb Ur Rehman
Fazalhaq Farooqui
IND vs AFG: This match promises a roller-coaster of emotions and some high-quality cricket. With both teams aiming for a win, spectators are in for a treat!
Image Credit – crickettimes
