IND vs AFG, 3rd T20I: India Opt to Bat as Afghans Seek Consolation Win in Bengaluru Dead Rubber

Bengaluru: India’s T20 side is firing on all cylinders as they head into their final match before the World Cup in West Indies. Despite effectively being a dead rubber, tonight’s clash against Afghanistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will provide valuable insights into India’s preparations, with several players putting their hands up for selection.

Players like Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma have showcased their potential. Virat Kohli’s renewed intent after a self-imposed T20I hiatus adds to India’s firepower.

Kohli’s aggressive approach, coupled with Rohit Sharma’s commitment to a high-risk, high-reward batting style, bodes well for India. Shivam Dube’s emergence as a middle-overs enforcer addresses past concerns about slowing down in that phase. Jaiswal’s all-format opening skills and the team’s emphasis on maintaining a high strike rate have boosted the overall batting performance.

With the expected return of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya and the potential inclusion of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel in the batting lineup, India’s No. 1-7 batting order looks formidable. Despite batting improvements, concerns persist about India leaking big runs. The bowlers, especially at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, known for high-scoring games, aim to refine their skills and adapt quickly.

Arshdeep Singh, India’s most economical fast bowler in the series, sees the high-pressure situation for batsmen as an advantage for bowlers. The management may consider giving a game to Avesh Khan or experimenting with Kuldeep Yadav. Mukesh Kumar and Ravi Bishnoi could make way for potential changes.

As the last opportunity to test Sanju Samson, the management faces decisions on the playing XI. Despite the dead rubber status, the team aims to use the match as a learning opportunity and improve match skills.

Playing XIs

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson(w), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Fareed Ahmad Malik