This January, Afghanistan and India played one of the most thrilling T20Is ever, needing two Super Overs to determine a winner. Both teams were not at full strength, but now, as they meet again in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, the stakes are significantly higher. This encounter promises to be less of a spectacle and more of a strategic battle.
Afghanistan boasts a formidable bowling attack capable of posing challenges in every over. To level the playing field, they must get past the experienced Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, early in the innings. This crucial task falls to Fazalhaq Farooqi, whose left-arm angle and ability to swing the new ball can trouble even the most skilled batters.
If Farooqi succeeds in removing Sharma and Kohli early, India could find themselves under scoreboard pressure, setting the stage for Rashid Khan to capitalize. The Afghan captain has a knack for finishing off teams that have begun to stumble, and he will be crucial in maintaining the pressure on India.
India, however, has a trump card in Suryakumar Yadav, who has a history of dominating Rashid in T20s. Yadav has scored 86 runs off 58 balls against Rashid at a strike rate of 148 without being dismissed. Shivam Dube also poses a threat, with a strike rate of 155 against Rashid over a smaller sample size. India’s left-handed batters could also play a significant role, as Rashid has not been as effective against them in recent T20s, allowing a strike rate of 141 this year.
While Afghanistan’s bowling is their strongest suit, India’s batting line-up has the means to counter it. This implies that for Afghanistan to secure a victory, one of their batters will need to have an exceptional day.
The high stakes and contrasting strengths make this match one of the most anticipated clashes in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. With both teams capable of extraordinary performances, cricket fans can expect a fiercely contested game that could go down to the wire.
