India and Afghanistan will engage in a three-game home T20I series. This is the last game sequence for the hosts prior to the T20 World Cup this year. Afghanistan is set to gain from their 2023 ODI World Cup success moving into a tight schedule of nine T20I games ahead of the T20 World Cup. These games hold significance for them, granting chances to solidify their premier XI selection, making tweaks where necessary.
A 19-player team was first picked for the India matches. Back surgery has sidelined Rashid Khan from the games. So, Ibrahim Zadran is stepping up to lead the team without him.
Here are three reasons that, even in the absence of Rashid Khan, Afghanistan remains perilous for India:
1. IPL experience boosts Afghanistan’s confidence
A few difficulties occurred for Afghanistan lately when Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen-ul-Haq declared their intention to leave their central contracts for franchise cricket. All three players have returned to the national squad, though, and it is expected that they will play important roles after some discussions.
Due to their IPL involvement, all three of these players have experience and are familiar with Indian conditions, making them significant players for Afghanistan. Farooqi and Naveen have demonstrated in the past that they have the mettle to defeat even the most sophisticated teams, particularly in Twenty20 cricket, and they will relish the Indian conditions.
2. Firepower in batting
The line-up is impressive – Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi. Even if a couple of them perform at their best, India’s bowlers will feel the pressure. It’s important to keep the Mohali conditions in mind. It turns dewy under the evening lights. The wet ground could be a boon for the batters, giving them a chance to shine.
The one obvious concern for Afghanistan is that their hitters have a tendency to get trapped, which makes it difficult for them to rotate the strike. They might pose a serious danger to this still-developing Indian bowling assault if they can resolve this problem.
3. Spin threat
Afghanistan still has enough skill in their spin bowling unit, but Rashid Khan is a huge loss. Although the Indian batsmen will be a challenge, Qais Ahmed and Mujeeb ur Rahman are formidable spin spinners with the ability to seriously raise some eyebrows.
Noor Ahmad, a youthful left-arm spinner who played for the Gujarat Titans, is another player on the visiting team. When facing this Indian hitting, he can be an x-factor. In addition, the reliable Mohammad Nabi is always available to provide his helpful off-spin depending on the situation and matchups. Despite Rashid Khan’s absence, Afghanistan boasts a potent squad that has performed admirably in T20 cricket recently, so they should be able to challenge the hosts with a well-rounded bowling assault.