IND vs AFG 1st T20I, India is set to face Afghanistan in the 1st T20I today at Mohali’s PCA Stadium, kicking off a three-game series crucial for finalizing their squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled in West Indies and USA this June.
Injury Woes for Afghanistan: Rashid Khan Ruled Out
IND vs AFG 1st T20I, Afghanistan faces a setback as their star legspinner, Rashid Khan, is ruled out of the T20I series due to ongoing recovery from lower-back surgery. Despite traveling with the team, Rashid Khan won’t be participating in the series against India.
Virat Kohli’s Absence: Personal Reasons and Leadership Dynamics
IND vs AFG 1st T20I, On the Indian side, Virat Kohli, a pivotal batter, will be missing the 1st T20I due to undisclosed personal reasons. India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, announced this a day before the game, coinciding with the birthday of Kohli’s daughter, Vamika.
Kohli and Rohit Sharma make their T20 return after a hiatus of more than a year, with Rohit captaining the side. Although no formal confirmation has been made by BCCI, indications suggest Rohit Sharma leading the team at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Team Composition and Opening Strategy
IND vs AFG 1st T20I, India’s opening combination features Rohit Sharma and left-handed batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, as confirmed by Rahul Dravid in the pre-match press conference. Shubman Gill is expected to bat at No. 3, taking Kohli’s spot. Sanju Samson is likely to be the preferred wicketkeeper-batter in the middle order.
Key Players and Playing XI Predictions
Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh’s performance will be closely watched, as both are expected to feature in the playing 11 for the 1st T20I. The pace-bowling unit is likely to include Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar. The lone wrist spinner role could go to either Kuldeep Yadav or Ravi Bishnoi.
Probable Playing 11s
India:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Tilak Varma
- Rinku Singh
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Avesh Khan
- Kuldeep Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi
- Mukesh Kumar
Afghanistan:
- Hazratullah Zazai
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran (C)
- Najibullah Zadran
- Mohammad Nabi
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
- Sharafuddin Ashraf
- Qais Ahmad
- Noor Ahmad/Naveen-ul-Haq
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
As the teams prepare for the series, the spotlight is on India’s strategy, player form, and the dynamic between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, crucial elements in their T20 World Cup campaign.
