ICC World Cup 2019 Match 28, India v Afghanistan: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Like New Zealand, India are still unbeaten in the 2019 World Cup. They also have played a match fewer in the tournament, and are expected to have an easy run when they take field against Afghanistan – still winless after five matches – at the Rose Bowl.

India have played some solid cricket. Their three wins have come against South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan. Rohit Sharma has been in terrific form (3 matches, 2 hundreds, 1 fifty, average 159.50, strike rate 98); with 2 fifties in 3 innings, Virat Kohli has not done too badly either.

Once Shikhar Dhawan – who had scored 121 against Australia – was ruled out with a thumb injury, KL Rahul stepped up to score 57 against Pakistan. And Hardik Pandya has a strike rate of 168 in the tournament.

The bowlers have been more accurate than devastating. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4.75) and Jasprit Bumrah (5.28) both have excellent economy rates, while the wrist-spinners have picked up crucial wickets. Bhuvneshwar’s unavailability against Afghanistan will pave the way for Mohammed Shami, who has been waiting for his chance all this while.

Afghanistan had tried to put up a show in their first four outings before sinking without a trace against England. Eoin Morgan’s 17 sixes and a target of 398 turned out to be too overwhelming for them. Rashid Khan, of whom a lot was expected, conceded 110 from 9 overs. They will need to regroup before the India match.

Head to head

India and Afghanistan have met only twice, in Asia Cups 2014 and 2018. India won the first, at Mirpur, by 8 wickets, while the second, in Dubai, ended in a tie.

In other formats, India have won the only Test and both T20Is between the sides.

Key players

Rohit Sharma (India): The very fact that Rohit expressed disappointment after getting out for 140 should be enough to scare any opposition. His hundred against South Africa was hard-fought and his fifty against Australia a support act, but against Pakistan he flowed in full pomp. The tournament will witness more of these.

Gulbadin Naib (Afghanistan): Naib, a last-minute appointment, has failed to inspire his side – but that has nothing to do with his own performance. His tally (100 runs, strike rate 93, 5 wickets) are decent numbers, and what he did in the last match, against England, that caught the eye. His 10-0-68-3 included England’s top three scorers; and later, promoting himself to the top, he smashed a 28-ball 37. Afghanistan will need more of these.

Likely XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar/Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Afghanistan: Noor Ali Zadran, Gulbadin Naib (c), Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.