IND vs AFG: Team India are ready for the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue have been undefeated in this tournament so far and did a good job in the group stage. But the matches will be difficult. Rohit Sharma and co. will play their first fixture of the Super 8 against Afghanistan on Thursday at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. India can start well here, and a win can ease their way into the semi-finals.
India have a great record against Afghanistan across formats. They have not lost a single match against them. The Indian team have won seven out of eight T20Is against them, and one game was called off. Hence, the record favours the Indian side, but they won’t take Afghanistan lightly after the way they have performed on the group stage. They thrashed New Zealand and are playing good cricket. That’s what the former Afghans’s coach also warned the Indian team ahead of the IND vs AFG clash.
T20 World Cup 2024: “India have to be careful against Afghanistan”- Ex-AFG Coach ahead of IND vs AFG Super 8 fixture
Without a doubt, India will start the IND vs AFG clash as favourites, but Afghanistan can be a tricky team to face. They have challenged Team India in the recent past and have played some close games. The last T20I game between the two teams was a tie. That’s why India can’t write them. Former Afghanistan coach Umesh Patwal has warned the Men in Blue ahead of the IND vs AFG fixture on Thursday. In an interview with IANS in Mumbai, he pointed out the tied match between the two teams in the 2018 Asia Cup.
He said, “So, this time, India has to be careful about the way they are going to face Afghanistan. Against India and Australia, they could bat first after winning the toss and then just make sure they put a lot of pressure on them in the second innings. I’m really expecting them to be in the top four.” Patwal added that it would not be surprising if Afghanistan made it to the semis in this tournament.
He said that he was expecting the game but missed the opportunity to beat Australia at Wankhede Stadium when Glenn Maxwell took the game away from them. India and Afghanistan are with Australia and Bangladesh in Group 1 of the Super 8. Only two teams can qualify for the semis in this group. So if Afghanistan want to qualify, they need to win at least two games with a good NRR to make their chances. Which means they have to beat either India or Australia or both to do this.
