India is all set to play against Afghanistan in the ninth game of the 2023 World Cup. The match will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday, October 11. India’s kick-off in the tournament was strong, as they beat Australia in Chennai. On the flip side, Afghanistan didn’t have the best start, losing their opener in Dharamsala.
The home team will miss young talent Shubman Gill for this game as he’s unwell and was hospitalized in Chennai.
Without Gill, the team will likely open with Ishan Kishan. Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, who couldn’t score much against Australia, will aim to come back stronger. In the last game, India’s bowling looked sharp with key contributions from Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav.
How to Watch the Match:
For fans in India, the game will be broadcasted live on the Star Sports network. You can catch the action from 2:00 PM IST, with coverage starting at 12:30 PM IST. For those who prefer online streaming, Disney + Hotstar app and website will showcase the match.
The Teams for the Match:
India’s squad includes: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, and Suryakumar Yadav.
Afghanistan’s players are: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Rahman, Riaz Hassan, and Noor Ahmad.
After their victory against Australia, India will be keen to maintain their momentum against Afghanistan. The previous game saw India struggling initially in the chase but the Kohli-Rahul partnership turned things around.
Afghanistan, after their loss to Bangladesh, will be aiming to get back on track and put up a strong fight against India. The Delhi weather, however, might be challenging with temperatures expected to be high and humidity adding to the discomfort. The good news is that there’s no rain predicted, ensuring uninterrupted play.
Senior player Ravindra Jadeja shared his enthusiasm about playing in front of the home crowd in the World Cup, emphasizing the role of fans in boosting the team’s spirit.
Match Prediction:
Given the recent form and strengths of both teams, India appears to have an edge going into this match. While Afghanistan has showcased resilience in the past, Team India’s well-rounded unit and their impressive win against Australia make them favorites to secure a win in the upcoming game.
