India vs Afghanistan: Final T20 Ahead of World Cup as India Looks to Seal Dominance
Yashasvi Jaiswal Shines with Fifty as India Dominates 2nd T20I Against Afghanistan
Having already secured victory in the T20I series against Afghanistan, India is set to play the third and final T20I on Wednesday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. This match holds significance as it marks India’s last T20I before the upcoming World Cup scheduled for June.
India has been in impressive form in the T20I series against Afghanistan, securing victories in both previous matches. After winning in Mohali by six wickets, India replicated the success in Indore on Sunday. Opting to bowl first, the Indian team effectively restricted Afghanistan to a total of 172 on a batting-friendly pitch. India then successfully chased down the target with 26 balls to spare, showcasing their dominance in the series.
In the previous T20I match, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube played crucial roles in India’s successful chase, both scoring half-centuries. Additionally, Virat Kohli made a quickfire comeback into the T20I side after 14 months, contributing with a score of 29 off 16 balls. As India heads into the final match of the series against Afghanistan, here’s a potential lineup for the team.
India’s T20 squad for the third match against Afghanistan may likely see Yashasvi Jaiswal retaining his spot as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma. The left-handed batsman has been a consistent performer and one of the top run-scorers for India in T20Is since January 2023, making him a valuable asset at the top of the order.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s impressive performance in the second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore, where he scored 68 runs at a rapid strike rate of 200, further solidifies his position in the Indian T20 side. Despite the early dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma, Jaiswal showcased his aggressive batting style, contributing significantly to India’s successful run chase.
Unlike Shubman Gill, who has struggled to make a significant impact in recent matches and failed to capitalize on early starts, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s consistent performances have strengthened his position in the Indian T20 side. Gill, who scored a century earlier last year, has faced challenges in maintaining his form.
After two consecutive T20Is with subpar performances, Washington Sundar is set to make way for Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the third T20I against Afghanistan. Sundar struggled with the ball, conceding 50 runs without taking any wickets in the first two matches.
Kuldeep Yadav, known for his left-arm chinaman bowling, may come into play in the third T20I against Afghanistan. With Washington Sundar facing challenges both with the ball and bat, Kuldeep might provide a different spin option for India. Having played in only nine T20Is since last year, Kuldeep is the fourth-highest wicket-taker for India during this period.
Predicted playing XI for India:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Virat Kohli
- Shivam Dube
- Rinku Singh
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mukesh Kumar
Predicted playing XI for Afghanistan:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran (c)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Najibullah Zadran
- Karim Janat
- Gulbadin Naib
- Noor Ahmad
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
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