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Other SportsIndia v Afghanistan 2nd T20I: preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and...

India v Afghanistan 2nd T20I: preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

The State of Play

India won the series opener at a canter with a couple of players catching the eye. Left-arm all-rounder Axar Patel was exceptionally tidy in taking two for 23 to help restrict Afghanistan to 158 for five from their 20 overs and Shivam Dube, who hit an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls to claim the player of the match sward.

Dube’s innings was notable as India were missing Virat Kohli for Thursday’s game due to personal reasons but the superstar will return for Sunday’s encounter in Indore.

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Afghanistan were let down by their batting, despite being given a good start by openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who put on 50 for the first wicket only for both men to fall within the space of three deliveries.

Mohammad Nabi made a 27-ball 42 but the middle order failed to back him up.

Team News

Kohli is back for India and will go straight back into the line-up but Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was slated to start as an opener in Mohali before being ruled out at the toss with a sore groin, is unlikely to return.

Afghanistan are unlikely to make many changes and could well go with the same XI that played the series opener.

Expected line-ups

India: R Sharma (c), Gill, Dube, Kohli, J Sharma (wk), R Singh, Patel, Sundar, Bishnoi, A Singh, M Kumar

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah (wk), Ibrahim (c), Omarzai, Rahmat, Nabi, Najibullah, Janat, Gulbadin, Farooqi, Naveen, Mujeeb

What they said

Shivam Dube on his impact in the first game of the series

“Batting at number four was a bit of pressure for me but I had one thing on my mind… that I had to play my style of cricket. From my style, I feel a bit of pressure first two to three balls but after that I think about the ball and don’t think too much. I know I can hit big sixes in T20s, so I know I can get runs anyway.”

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran on their display in Mohali

“We will try to improve our fielding. We were quite lazy with the fielding. We will try to improve our batting as well. Bowling we have no issue. Will focus on what we did wrong today.”

When and how to watch

India against Afghanistan takes place at 1.30pm UK time tomorrow. It is not being shown live in the UK.

Prediction  

If the likes of Dube and Patel can maintain their form then India will be tough to beat, especially with Kohli coming back into the side. Afghanistan’s spinners will always be a threat, especially in the warmer climes of Indore, but it’s tough to bet against a series-clinching India win.

Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher
Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.
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