WHO: Afghanistan vs India
That: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight
When: Thursday June 20, 10:30 am local time (14:30 GMT)
Where: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
How to follow: Al Jazeera build-up and live coverage begins at 10:30 GMT
When India and Afghanistan meet in their T20 World Cup Super Eight match at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, both teams will face different challenges.
Afghanistan has played all of its group matches in the Caribbean, where its bowlers and opening batsmen have led them to three wins in four outings.
But Rashid Khan's team will now face their toughest challenge as they face the top-ranked T20 team, whose players could pose serious problems for Afghanistan's middle-order batsmen.
However, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott believes his team will not be intimidated by the occasion or the opposition in Thursday's match and will approach it “like any other”. [other] game”.
“We still have our best game left and hopefully it will be tomorrow,” Trott told reporters Wednesday.
Trott admitted that India will be favorites to win the game but that will also add pressure to Rohit Sharma's team.
“We enter [to the game] perceived as helpless, but [we are] “Fully prepared and ready for the battle we face tomorrow.”
.@FazalFarooqi10 continue breathing 🔥 with the ball and stay on the 🔝 of the #T20WorldCup. 👏#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPNG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/atEhwRCUhh
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 14, 2024
Will Afghanistan target Virat Kohli?
The former England batsman asked about India's star batsman Virat Kohli, who scored five runs in three games, but said his team will take into account the players' records and “not just recent form”.
“All of them [Indian batters] They are a threat. It would be naïve to say they aren't, but I think that applies to all of our hitters as well. So anyone on their day can take your game away from you.
“But yes, obviously you realize if [a player] You haven't been in shape and you look for ways to exploit [it].”
India will not take Afghanistan 'lightly'
Meanwhile, India head coach Rahul Dravid praised Afghanistan's performance in the tournament so far and said they are “a very dangerous team” in the T20 format.
“Many of their players play in many T20 leagues and are well-travelled cricketers,” Dravid said in his pre-match comments.
“They are deservedly in the Super Eight and we will not treat them any differently than we would treat any other team.”
The former middle-order batsman said his team will be “flexible” in the way they approach the game depending on the situation and ground conditions.
“We've always been aware of the concept of being able to have players who can be adaptable and float around in that middle order when necessary.”
India will be wary of Afghanistan's bowling attack, led by the tournament's top spinner Fazalhaq Farooqi in the pace department and Rashid in spin.
“Their bowlers are some of the most sought after in this format across the world in different leagues,” Dravid said.
“We understand that this is going to represent a challenge for us and we are going to have to play well. “We have the skills, balance and depth in the team to counter their bowling attack.”
Getting ready 🆙 for the Super 8 👌 👌
Preparation mode 🔛 for #TeamIndia 👍 👍#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/DjR38cuJZi
-BCCI (@BCCI) June 19, 2024
Release and launch condition.
While the pitch in Barbados has not been a bowler's paradise, it has offered some help in curbing run-scoring, with only one team – Australia – crossing the 200-run mark.
The teams that won the toss elected to play first in all five games at the venue so far.
Weather forecast
The weather is not expected to play a major role as the forecast is for no rain with partial cloudiness and wet conditions during the day.
Head to head
India have a 7-0 lead over Afghanistan in their eight T20 matches, while one game ended in a no-win.
The 2007 champions won their home T20 series against Afghanistan 3-0 in January, while their last T20 World Cup match in 2022 ended in a huge 101-run victory.
forms guide
Both teams have claimed three wins each in their four matches in the tournament so far, but India are unbeaten while Afghanistan took a beating from hosts West Indies in their last outing.
Afghanistan has played all four of its group stage matches in the Caribbean, while this will be India's first in the region.
Afghanistan: LWWWW
India: WWWW
Afghanistan Team News
Afghanistan is expected to field the same team that suffered a heavy defeat against the West Indies but also gave them three wins.
Equipment: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (captain), Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik.
team india news
Despite the temptation of playing Kuldeep Yadav, India are unlikely to make any changes to their playing XI from their last full match against the United States.
Equipment: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
