T20 World Cup: Never lost to Afghanistan, but 5 ‘Kabuliwalas’ can spoil the game, India’s first match in Super-8

New Delhi. With the group matches of T20 World Cup 2024 over, the teams that have reached the Super 8 have started to strategize ahead. Team India, who topped Group ‘A’ and reached the next round, will play their first match against Afghanistan on June 20 in Bridgetown. The next two Super 8 matches of the ‘Rohit Sharma Brigade’ are scheduled to be held on June 22 against Bangladesh at North Sound and on June 24 against Australia at Grass Island.

Looking at Team India’s past record in the T20 World Cup against Afghanistan, many fans are expecting the first match to be easy when in fact it is not. It is true that Afghanistan team has never defeated Team India in the 3 matches so far in the T20 World Cup, but the current team cannot be considered weak by any means. Due to their fighting ability, the Afghan team has become a strong team in ODIs and T20s today. If we look at the performances of the World Cup 2023 and the current T20 World Cup so far, it would be foolish to take Rashid Khan’s team lightly. The team is balanced both in batting and bowling and some of its players are in top form.

Another thing, the role of spinners can be important on slow West Indies wickets and Afghanistan probably have the best spin attack in the world right now in the form of Rashid Khan, Mujibur Rahman, ‘Chinaman’ Noor Ahmed and Afghanistan. Mohammad Nabi. Apart from this, all-rounders like Nabi, Gulbuddin and Rashid give balance to the team. It is important for Team India to start the Super 8s in positive mode with a win. For this he has to strategize against each player of the opposing team apart from playing to his strengths.

Virat should open up on how Yashshwi, Kuldeep will fit into XI, 5 questions for Team India

Let’s take a look at the Afghan ‘fighter’ who can be a threat to Team India in the first match of the Super 8.

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz: The 22-year-old aggressive batsman is being considered as the future star of Afghanistan. As a wicketkeeper batsman, Gurbaz has become indispensable to the team. In four matches of the current tournament, he has scored the highest 167 runs with 2 half-centuries. A natural stroke player, Gurbaz is adept at hitting fours and sixes. Gurbaz, who has so far scored runs at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 150.45 in the T20 World Cup, has also shown his talent in the ODI World Cup 2023 by scoring 280 runs at an average of 31.11 and a strike rate of 98.93. . After failing with the bat in the last two matches against Papua New Guinea and West Indies, they will be eager to make up for it in the Super 8 match. India will have to make an effective strategy against Gurbaz, a natural stroke player.

T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli’s poor form taking its toll, average below 50 in T20Is

2. Ibrahim Zadran: Opening the innings with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Zadran has shared two centuries in this World Cup. Batting gear can be changed as needed. The lack of aggressive opener Shahjad is over. His opening pair with Gurbaz has given the team a good start in many matches. In the current World Cup, Afghanistan’s number two batsman Zadran has scored 152 runs in four matches at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 124.59. We are full of confidence to take this success forward to the Super 8 round.

3. Fazalhaq Farooqui: This emerged as a sensation in the T20 World Cup. The 23-year-old left-arm bowler doesn’t have much pace but is giving the batsmen a tough test with precise line-length and variety. In 4 matches so far, he has taken the highest 12 wickets at an average of 6.66 and an economy of 5.58, including performances of five wickets in an innings and four wickets in an innings. An overall T20I average of 18.87 and an economy of 6.62 shows his bowling prowess.In the last group match against West Indies, despite conceding 38 runs in 4 overs, he took no wickets. With such a scenario, a narrative is being created that Farooqui will excel against a weaker team, the challenge in the Super 8 is to disprove this assumption.

VIDEO: When Fazal Haque told Rashid – Shutup, Arshdeep’s celebration and.. Interesting events of T20 WC

4. Rashid Khan: He is counted among the best spinners in the T20 format. The right-arm wrist spinner is also the captain of the Afghan team in the T20 World Cup 2024. He is adept at ‘hunting’ the batsmen with his fast ball. Able to change the course of a match in a spell of just 4 overs. The big batsman makes mistakes in reading Rashid’s googly. In the 4 matches of the current tournament, he has averaged 6 wickets but is capable of bowling wonders at any time. Has taken 144 wickets in 89 T20Is at an average of 14.36 and an economy of 6.07. Only Tim Southee and Shakib-al-Hasan have taken more wickets than Rashid in this format. However, Rashid’s record is much better than both of them. He is the biggest threat for Team India in bowling. Also useful as a lower order hardhitting batter.

5. Muhammad Nabi: 39-year-old all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is in the final stages of his cricket career but his enthusiasm and agility on the field can be clearly seen. 95 wickets along with 2140 runs with 6 half-centuries in 125 T20Is shows his all-round ability. Indian fans will still remember the India vs Afghanistan match of World Cup (ODI) 2019 when Nabi took two wickets and scored 52 runs off 55 balls to bring the Indian team to the brink of defeat. In the crucial moments, Shami along with Nabi took three wickets in consecutive balls to give India victory by 11 runs. Apart from Nabi, Gulbuddin Naib can make a difference in the match. 33 year old Gulbadin is a middle order batsman and medium pace bowler. Besides scoring 60 runs with a top score of 49*, he has also taken two wickets in 4 matches of the current World Cup.

Tags: ICC T20 World Cup, IND vs AFG, India vs Afghanistan, T20 World Cup, Team India