In addition to his prowess with the bat, Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, is renowned for his occasional humorous remarks that often amuse fans. Though not intentionally comical, his laid-back style of expression seldom fails to bring a smile to the faces of supporters.

This characteristic was evident during India’s clash against Afghanistan in the third T20I in January. Rohit Sharma had endured a rough patch in the series, being dismissed for ducks in the first two games of the three-match series. Notably, this was his first T20I series since the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Expectations were high for the captain to make an impact in the shortest format of the game, but he struggled to get off the mark in the initial matches. Eager to open his account in the third T20I, Rohit found himself in a light-hearted dispute with the on-field umpire when the latter awarded leg byes after the right-handed batsman seemingly struck the ball for a boundary in the first over.

Confident that he had made contact with the ball, Rohit questioned the umpire’s decision, only realizing the ruling after the over had concluded and he glanced at the scoreboard.

Rohit Sharma Shares Comical Exchange with Umpire: The Inside Story

“Hey, Viru, was that given as leg-bye on the second ball? The bat made significant contact,” Rohit Sharma quipped to the umpire.

Reflecting on the incident during the inauguration of the third edition of the Khel Mahakhumbh in Bilaspur district on Tuesday (March 5), Rohit Sharma shed light on the humorous exchange.

SEE ALSO: Ashwin’s Inquiry Ahead of His 100th Test: Why Do Others Encounter Multiple Failures While I Only Experience One?

“When you’ve registered two ducks, getting that first run becomes crucial. The ball had indeed struck the bat and reached the boundary, but the umpire perhaps didn’t see it and awarded leg byes instead. I don’t usually check the scoreboard while batting; my focus remains on my innings,” Rohit Sharma explained.

“After the over, I happened to glance at the scoreboard and noticed it still showed ‘Rohit Sharma on zero.’ I thought, ‘But I hit a boundary; why does it still say zero?'” he added.

India are in for their last T20I before the World Cup. A dead rubber that has a lot of value with the sides looking for a stable line-up as India in particular looks to see if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma fit into their plans.

IND vs AFG Match Details

Date: January 17th, 2024

Time:  7:00 PM IST

Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium

IND vs AFG Weather Report

The weather looks fine with dew likely as the game goes on.

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

Bangalore, another ground with small boundaries should be full of sixers as batting second remains a better choice.

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head

IND vs AFG Predicted Playing XI

AFG Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

IND Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill/ Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma/ Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi/ Kuldeep Yadav, Arsdheep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

See Also: AUS vs PAK: Mohammed Nawaz has replaced Noman Ali for the Test series against Australia – Cricket Winner

IND vs AFG Key Players

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is in really good form but his ability in T20 Cricket despite all he has done in the format remains a question. He was the starring figure in the last T20 World Cup, but his strike-rate and style of play continue to put him under the scanner. With questions on if he and Rohit Sharma can play in the same eleven still around Virat Kohli has a lot to prove.

Ibrahim Zadran

Ibrahim Zadran was an underrated star in the previous World Cup, coming up with some gems throughout the tournament. He is a part of a growing batting line-up and has the potential to make a mark at the global stage across formats.

IND vs AFG Match Tips

Afghanistan is a competitive side but beating India at home will be a challenge, especially with the return of India’s biggest stars at the moment.

Match Prediction: India Will Win The Match

IND vs AFG Match Preview

The final T20I of India’s three-match series against Afghanistan will be played in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening. India has already sealed the series, winning by 6 wickets with 15 balls remained in Mohali last Thursday and by 6 wickets with 26 balls remaining in Indore on Sunday. India has already secured the series, and they will want to give other players in the squad opportunities to maximize their benefit from the three-match series. Despite having already lost the series, Afghanistan saw some positives in the second T20I. Gulbadin Naib’s attacking intent paid off, and batters further down the order followed suit.

IND vs AFG Match Details

India vs Afghanistan – 3rd T20I

Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium – Bengaluru

Date & Time: 17th January 2024 at 07:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: JioCinema App

IND vs AFG Venue StatAFG

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

The last T20I produced 405 runs, and we can expect another good batting pitch on Sunday evening.

IND vs AFG Weather Report

Although it will not be as cold as it is. The temperature is unlikely to rise above 20 degrees during the game. Clear skies are expected throughout.

IND vs AFG Last Five Matches

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Watch Video:Witness Troy Johnson’s Stunning Rebound Catch Leading to Will Young’s Departure in Super Smash T20

IND vs AFG Probable Playing XIs:

India Probable Playing XIs

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Topmost Picks for IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Rohit Sharma- after being run-out without scoring after two balls on Thursday, the skipper will be determined to make a big contribution in Indore.
• Arshdeep Singh- although the left-arm swing bowler went wicketless in the first T20I, he did not bowl badly and recorded India’s only maiden over in the game.

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Ibrahim Zadran- the captain shared an opening stand of 50 before being dismissed for 25 runs from 22 balls on Thursday. However, he played with attacking intent and we can expect more of the same in Indore.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman- with no Rashid Khan, the 22 year old took on the lead spinner role in Mohali and was the standout bowler for Afghanistan. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND vs AFG Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube(C), Axar Patel, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai(VC), Arshdeep Singh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND vs AFG Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz(VC), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(C), Shivam Dube, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Arshdeep Singh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Shivam Dube, Rohit Sharma

Vice-captain – Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Wicketkeeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

IND vs AFG Probable Winners:

Both teams will be relieved to see that the temperature will be slightly higher in Indore than in Mohali, but we anticipate another one-sided contest. India were much stronger with the bat in the opening game, and with Virat Kohli back in the lineup, we expect this to continue. Afghanistan will also need to improve their fielding performance, but we still expect India to win comfortably. Considering the team combination, India is expected to win this match.

IND vs AFG Match Preview

India and Afghanistan will face off in the following match of the 3-match T20I series on the afternoon of Sunday in Indore. On a cold Thursday evening in Mohali, India took a 1-0 lead with a 6-wicket victory. Another home win in this game will decide the series before the final match. India never looked in trouble in the first game of the series. They will go to Indore expecting to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead. Virat Kohli’s return to the lineup will only strengthen their batting for the second match. Despite being comfortably beaten on Thursday, Afghanistan can take heart from some of the batting partnerships and Mujeeb’s spin bowling. However, to compete on Sunday, the entire team will have to step up a level or two.

IND vs AFG Match Details

India vs Afghanistan – 2nd T20I

Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium – Indore

Date & Time: 14th January 2024 at 07:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: JioCinema App

IND vs AFG Venue StatAFG

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

The last T20I at the Holkar Stadium produced 405 runs, and we can expect another good batting pitch on Sunday evening in Indore.

IND vs AFG Weather Report

Although it will not be as cold as it was in Mohali. The temperature is unlikely to rise above 20 degrees during the game. Clear skies are expected throughout.

IND vs AFG Last Five Matches

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Watch Video:Witness Troy Johnson’s Stunning Rebound Catch Leading to Will Young’s Departure in Super Smash T20

IND vs AFG Probable Playing XIs:

India Probable Playing XIs

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Topmost Picks for IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Rohit Sharma- after being run-out without scoring after two balls on Thursday, the skipper will be determined to make a big contribution in Indore.
• Arshdeep Singh- although the left-arm swing bowler went wicketless in the first T20I, he did not bowl badly and recorded India’s only maiden over in the game.

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Ibrahim Zadran- the captain shared an opening stand of 50 before being dismissed for 25 runs from 22 balls on Thursday. However, he played with attacking intent and we can expect more of the same in Indore.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman- with no Rashid Khan, the 22 year old took on the lead spinner role in Mohali and was the standout bowler for Afghanistan. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND vs AFG Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube(C), Axar Patel, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai(VC), Arshdeep Singh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND vs AFG Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz(VC), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Rohit Sharma(C), Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Arshdeep Singh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Shivam Dube, Rohit Sharma

Vice-captain – Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Wicketkeeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

IND vs AFG Probable Winners:

Both teams will be relieved to see that the temperature will be slightly higher in Indore than in Mohali, but we anticipate another one-sided contest. India were much stronger with the bat in the opening game, and with Virat Kohli back in the lineup, we expect this to continue. Afghanistan will also need to improve their fielding performance, but we still expect India to win comfortably. Considering the team combination, India is expected to win this match.

The first T20 went pretty well with India getting a chance to test their batting depth. Rohit Sharma though did not get a chance to get a proper hit, run-out early, while Afghanistan did manage to put up a fight despite being without Rashid Khan.

IND vs AFG Match Details

Date: January 14th, 2024

Time:  7:00 PM IST

Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore

IND vs AFG Weather Report

The weather looks fine with dew likely as the game goes on.

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

Indore is known for its small boundaries. The pitch too is a pretty flat one and a lot of runs could be expected. Batting second will be a better option.

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head

IND vs AFG Predicted Playing XI

AFG Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

IND Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill/ Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma/ Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi/ Kuldeep Yadav, Arsdheep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

See Also: AUS vs PAK: Mohammed Nawaz has replaced Noman Ali for the Test series against Australia – Cricket Winner

IND vs AFG Key Players

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is in really good form but his ability in T20 Cricket despite all he has done in the format remains a question. He was the starring figure in the last T20 World Cup, but his strike-rate and style of play continue to put him under the scanner. With questions on if he and Rohit Sharma can play in the same eleven still around Virat Kohli has a lot to prove.

Ibrahim Zadran

Ibrahim Zadran was an underrated star in the previous World Cup, coming up with some gems throughout the tournament. He is a part of a growing batting line-up and has the potential to make a mark at the global stage across formats.

IND vs AFG Match Tips

Afghanistan is a competitive side but beating India at home will be a challenge, especially with the return of India’s biggest stars at the moment.

Match Prediction: India Will Win The Match

IND vs AFG Match Preview

The three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan begins on Thursday evening in Mohali. With the 2024 T20 World Cup taking place in the Caribbean in June, both teams are taking this series very seriously. India will be targeting the T20 World Cup later this year, and they already have a very strong group of players who will be looking to get a lot of match practice together in the coming months. The hosts will be confident of going up 1-0 in the series. Afghanistan plays a fearless brand of cricket in all formats, and they impressed in India during the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Despite the absence of world-class spinner Rashid Khan for this game, they intend to take the game to India.

IND vs AFG Match Details

India vs Afghanistan – 1st T20I

Venue: Punjab Cricket Association stadium – Mohali

Date & Time: 11th January 2024 at 07:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: JioCinema App

IND vs AFG Venue StatAFG

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

The IS Bindra Stadium pitch will have turn, so spinners will be hoping for a good day. However, it is a good batting wicket, with a par score of over 190.

IND vs AFG Weather Report

Clear skies are expected throughout Thursday evening for this game in Mohali. The humidity will be high, but the temperature will be less than 14 degrees in the second half of the match.

IND vs AFG Last Five Matches

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: DSG vs MICT Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Updates For 02nd Match

IND vs AFG Probable Playing XIs:

India Probable Playing XIs

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Topmost Picks for IND vs AFG Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Rinku Singh – Rinku Singh has been getting a lot of attention lately for his brilliant batting style. He is playing a role of finisher quite well. In just 12 T20Is, Rinku Singh has smashed 262 runs at a strike rate of 180.68.
• Arshdeep Singh – The left-arm medium fast bowler comes into this series with plenty of confidence after performing very well during the white ball series in South Africa last month.

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Ibrahim Zadran – The skipper has hit three half-centuries in T20Is and has an excellent ODI record for his country. He scored 59 in the first T20I against the UAE.
• Naveen-ul-Haq – The right-arm medium fast bowler took wickets with his first two balls in his last T20I before ending the game with figures of 4/20.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND vs AFG Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Axar Patel, Ibrahim Zadran, Sanju Samson, Rohit Sharma(C), Virat Kohli, Azmatullah Omarzai(VC), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND vs AFG Dream11 Team:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(VC), Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

Vice-captain – Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan

Wicketkeeper – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

IND vs AFG Probable Winners:

Both teams have strong T20I records, but Afghanistan will be well aware that beating India at home in any format is a difficult task. Afghanistan has an opportunity to target India’s pace attack, which is missing some of its key players, but the rest of India’s team is nearly at full strength. We predict that India will win this game. Considering the team combination, India is expected to win this match.

A big question seems to be answered. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back and are truly in the plan for the upcoming World Cup. Considering their experience and ability in recent tournaments, particularly Virat Kohli, the choice of bringing the pair back was inevitable but remains a question mark with the young talent around.

Afghanistan too is no pushover. In the last year, they have been punching well above their weight and are looking competitive. Rashid Khan is unlikely to start as he is still recovering from a back surgery but the remainder of the squad does look pretty effective regardless.

IND vs AFG Match Details

Date: January 11th, 2024

Time:  7:00 PM IST

Venue: Punjab Cricket Association IS, Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

IND vs AFG Weather Report

The weather looks fine with dew likely as the game goes on.

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

Early moisture and some grass on the track is likely at Mohali. Mohali has some long boundaries as well and a fast outfield. With dew likely to be heavy as the evening progresses batting second will be a better option.

IND vs AFG Head-to-Head

IND vs AFG Predicted Playing XI

AFG Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

IND Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill/ Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi/ Kuldeep Yadav, Arsdheep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

See Also: AUS vs PAK: Mohammed Nawaz has replaced Noman Ali for the Test series against Australia – Cricket Winner

IND vs AFG Key Players

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is in really good form but his ability in T20 Cricket despite all he has done in the format remains a question. He was the starring figure in the last T20 World Cup, but his strike-rate and style of play continue to put him under the scanner. With questions on if he and Rohit Sharma can play in the same eleven still around Virat Kohli has a lot to prove.

Ibrahim Zadran

Ibrahim Zadran was an underrated star in the previous World Cup, coming up with some gems throughout the tournament. He is a part of a growing batting line-up and has the potential to make a mark at the global stage across formats.

IND vs AFG Match Tips

Afghanistan are a competitive side but beating India at home will be a challenge especially with the return of India’s biggest stars at the moment.

Match Prediction: India Will Win The Match

India and Afghanistan are poised for a cricketing face-off in January, marking their first encounter since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 held in India. In the World Cup clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Men In Blue dominated, securing victory by 8 wickets with 90 balls to spare, propelled by a remarkable century from captain Rohit Sharma.

The match also witnessed a noteworthy moment as IPL rivals Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq put aside their differences, concluding their rivalry. The rift between the two had originated during IPL 2023, leading to a verbal exchange. Following the heated incident, Naveen-ul-Haq faced ‘Kohli Kohli’ chants whenever he played in India.

Returning to the India-Afghanistan series, the Afghan team is slated to engage in three T20I matches during their tour of India in January 2024.

Afghanistan Tour of India 2024: Complete Schedule Announced

The eagerly awaited three-match T20I series between Afghanistan and India is scheduled to take place on January 11, 14, and 17. The inaugural match will be hosted in Mohali, followed by subsequent matches in Indore and Bengaluru.

Remarkably, this upcoming series marks the first-ever instance of Afghanistan and the Men In Blue locking horns in a multi-match white-ball series. While Afghanistan and India have previously competed in tournaments organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and International Cricket Council (ICC), they have not engaged in any multi-match white-ball series until now.

Reflecting on India’s World Cup campaign, the team dominated the entire tournament and entered the final on a 10-match winning streak. However, their impressive run came to an end in the summit clash as Rohit Sharma & Co. suffered a significant defeat against Australia, leaving cricket fans around the globe disheartened.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, had a commendable campaign, securing memorable victories against three former World Cup-winning teams – England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Despite their remarkable performance, they fell short of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Here’s the schedule for the IND vs AFG 2024 series:

• 11th January 2023: 1st T20I – Mohali
• 14th January 2023: 2nd T20I – Indore
• 17th January 2023: 3rd T20I – Bengaluru

As good as Afghanistan is in franchise Cricket, their players continue to struggle to convert internationally. They failed to win a single game in the last World Cup and crumbled with ease against Bangladesh. Batting through the innings and challenging the Indian Team are going to be the targets here.

The last time both teams faced of in the World Cup, Afghanistan came very close to beating India. If not for a Final over hat-trick from Mohammad Shami, India may have been on the receiving end of an upset. Will Shami play this time though? With Delhi likely to remain flat, India may be thinking about bringing Shami or Shardul in for Ashwin.

The Indian Team was pretty good with the ball in the first game and winning after being 2 for 3 will give them a lot of confidence. They still have worries with the top order and will hope such concerns are solved soon.

IND vs AFG Match Details

Date: October 11th, 2023

Time:  2:00 PM IST

Venue: Delhi

IND vs AFG Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture with Dew likely to play a part in the back end of the game.

IND vs AFG Pitch Report

Delhi tends to be a high-scoring venue with a flat track and with Dew likely in the northern parts of India during this time of the year Batting second will be a better option though.

BAN vs AFG Head-to-Head

Played- 3 | Afghanistan- 0 | India- 2 | NR- 0 | Tie- 01BAN vs AFG Predicted Playing XI

AFG Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen Ul Haq

IND Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin/ Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

See Also: https://cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/crickets-biggest-event-kicks-off-as-a-generation-faces-off

IND vs AFG Key Players

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Quick starts and early runs are going to very crucial. With a track that is likely to ease out soon, Afghanistan will want Rahmanullah Gurbaz to get going as soon as possible and bat deep to get them to a good position with the bat.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul has been surprising many after his comeback. From being a player who silently gets runs in the middle and turns out to be inconsistent when the going gets tough, India has found a middle-order batter who can be relied on. He is doing a really good job and India will hope he continues to be their middle-order solution.

IND vs AFG Match Tips

India remains favorite but with Afghanistan’s spin attack and going by how they fared in the last World Cup encounter with India they may have back themselves to have an outside chance.

Match Prediction: India Will Win the Match

The selectors are probably going to name a second-string Indian team with Hardik Pandya as the captain for the home series against Afghanistan.

According to the news agency PTI, prominent Indian cricketers such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj may be rested from the three-match ODI series at home against Afghanistan. 

Reports of the mini series were in peril because of India’s confined timetable however BCCI is probably going to proceed with the series, which was declared by board secretary Jay Shah last month. The selectors are probably going to name a second-string team with Hardik Pandya as the skipper.

The series has not yet been scheduled, but it is likely to take place in the third or fourth week of the following month, between the WTC final and India’s tour of the West Indies. Keeping the responsibility of any semblance of Rohit, Kohli, and Shami as a main priority, the board has chosen to give them a breather.

The majority of the top Indian cricketers are engaged with the IPL, a two-extended competition, and some of them will likewise highlight in the WTC last against Australia at The Oval from June 7. India likewise have an undeniable three-design tour through the West Indies arranged in July, where an original capacity Indian side is set to travel. They will play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies from July 12 to August 13, after which the group is supposed to play a three-match T20I series in Ireland.

As a result, including Rohit and Kohli in the Afghanistan series is almost impossible. This could open the entryways for IPL entertainers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

While Mirwais Ashraf, president of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), is in India for the IPL final, the Indian and Afghan cricket boards may also finalize the details of their proposed white-ball series during a meeting with members of the Asian Cricket Council.

The report likewise guaranteed that Rohit, Kohli and even Hardik Pandya may be refreshed from the Ireland series remembering the Asia Cup.

The ACC board individuals will meet uninvolved with the IPL last to conclude the fate of the Asia Cup 2023, and that implies that the responsibility will just increase for the Indian players, considering that there is an exceedingly significant 50-over World Cup arranged for October-November.

The Asia Cup 2023 is expected to be played in September if all goes according to plan. This means that Indian players will have a hard time finding time to rest and recover. Key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer have already been hurt a lot, and there is no clear timetable for when they will be back. In addition, India will conclude World Cup preparations in September with a three-match ODI series against Australia, the second of its kind this year.

As indicated by Source, the BCCI is finding it hard to plan the Afghanistan series, proposed to have three ODIs, given the time constraint and furthermore on the grounds that the broadcast deal with Disney Star has finished and a new tender is yet to be issued.

“BCCI media rights tender will be on schedule this year (June-July) and will depend on the Afghanistan tour, but more likely the process will start from the Australia series. The Board will speak to all stakeholders concerned and will come up with an interim decision.”

a senior BCCI secretary Jay Shah during an earlier interaction with media in Mumbai had said.