India and Afghanistan Set to Heat Up the Pitch in High-Stakes 2nd T20I
In a dazzling display of cricketing prowess, Team India emerged victorious in the first T20 against Afghanistan, setting the stage for an exhilarating clash in the second encounter at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. The opening match of the series saw India deliver a clinical performance, both with the bat and the ball.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran give a balance start to Afghanistan adding 50 runs of partnership in eight overs before fall of the first wicket. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi both played a crucial knock of 29(22) and 42(27) respectively leading a team to the fighting total of 158/5 in 20 overs. Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar both took 2 wicket each for India restricting the opponent side for 158 at the batting paradise.
After the start of a second innings India lost their captain Rohit Sharma without opening his account. India lost both their opener batsman in a powerplay. It was Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma who scored quick 60 and 31 respectively with Rinku Singh giving a finishing touch to guide Team India securing a resounding 6-wicket victory over the visitors, displaying a masterclass in skill, strategy, and resilience.
Now its time for the second T20I, it will be interesting to watch whether Team India winning todays game to claim the series 2-0 or will it be young rising Afghanistan to level-up the series 1-1. Fans can catch up on the live action between India vs Afghanistan at 7 pm on the Sports18 Network and will be live-streamed on JioCinema app and website.
India’s veteran cricketer Virat Kohli will be a key players to watch out for as he will return to the shortest format of cricket after a gap of 14 months. Cricket enthusiasts around the world are eagerly awaiting the return of Virat Kohli to the T20 format ahead of the WT20 2024.
Fans are eagerly anticipating Kohli’s return to see as how he will guide the team and exhibit his trademark cover drives, finesse, and unparalleled determination on the field. Not only does Kohli’s comeback bring a boost to India’s batting, but his leadership skills and tactical acumen as captain are also set to play a pivotal role in steering the team through the challenges posed by a resilient Afghanistan side.
Afghanistan’s ace spinner, Rashid Khan, is set to miss the 2nd T20 clash against India, leaving a void that the team will need to address strategically. Rashid, known for his lethal spin variations and ability to turn matches in Afghanistan’s favor is suffering from back injury. His absence is expected to have a significant impact on the dynamics of the upcoming match.
India vs Afghanistan: Pitch report
Holkar Cricket Stadium’s pitch is known to favour the batters and is considered to be a high scoring wicket. The boundaries being shorter and the flat pitches help batters to score more. So the team winning the toss should bat first.
India vs Afghanistan: Weather report
The weather will be clear on match day, with a chances of no rain. Also, the temperature will remain around 22 degrees Celsius and may drop to 17 degrees towards the end of the game.
Probable Playing 11 for Today’s India vs Afghanistan 2024 2nd T20
Expected Playing 11 for India Team
R. Sharma (C), Y. Jaiswal, V. Kohli, S. Dube, R. Singh, J. Sharma (WK), A. Patel, W. Sundar, R. Bishnoi, M. Kumar, A. Singh
Expected Playing 11 for Afghanistan Team
I. Zadran (C), R. Gurbaz (WK), R. Shah, K. Janat, N. Zadran, M. Nabi, A. Omarzai, G. Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-Ul-Haq, F. Farooqi
India vs Afghanistan 2024 2nd T20 Fantasy Team
- Wicketkeeper: R. Gurbaz
- Batters: R. Sharma, Y. Jaiswal, V. Kohli, I. Zadran
- All-rounder: M. Nabi, A. Omarzai, Shivam Dube
- Bowlers: M. Kumar, A. Singh, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
- Captain: V. Kohli/R. Sharma
- Vice Captain: Shivam Dube