IND vs AFG: The Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will be another big clash on Thursday. This time, Team India will lock horns with Afghanistan in match no. 42 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. This is the first game in Group 1, and a win here will set the tone for the coming games, while a defeat will put the team in a must-win situation.
The Indian team have a great record against Afghanistan and will start the game as favorites. But they can’t take Afghanistan lightly because they have also played pretty well in this tournament. Afghanistan have not won a match against India yet, but they are the giantkillers and have all the ingredients to beat India. So it won’t be a surprise if they win this IND vs AFG clash. Here, we will talk about three solid reasons why Afghanistan can win this match.
IND vs AFG: Three Reasons why Afghanistan can beat India in Antigua
1. Well-suited Spin Attack
Afghanistan have probably one of the best spin attacks in the tournament. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad bowl 10–12 overs of quality spin. On the other hand, India played their group matches in New York, where the pitches were good for the pacers. That means Indian spinners will go into the IND vs AFG game a bit underprepared. So that can be a challenge. Because India don’t have good players of spin in the middle overs.
2. In-form Opening Pair
The pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran is the backbone of Afghanistan. These two added two 100-run stands in the first two games of the tournament. These two are also among the highest scorers in the tournament. So if they pull off yet another good opening stand in the IND vs AFG match in Antigua, they can put India under pressure. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have failed to give India good starts in this tournament. So if we look at the form, Afghanistan’s openers have an edge.
3. Conditions in Favour
It is not a wrong statement to say that the playing conditions play a major role in the result of any match. And that can become a major factor in the IND vs AFG. The Indian players played their group games in New York, where the conditions were really bad for batting, and they struggled. But the conditions in Antigua will be totally different, and they need to adjust them quickly. Players like Shivam Dube, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, and Mohammed Siraj have not played many games in West Indies. On the other hand, Afghanistan played all four matches in West Indies, and they will have a better knowledge of the conditions than the Indian players.
Also Read: 3 Reasons why India must stick with Virat Kohli as opener in Super 8 despite his recent failures