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The upcoming second T20I against Afghanistan presents a significant opportunity for several Indian cricketers to establish themselves as key players ahead of the T20 World Cup. Following India's victory in the first match at Mohali, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the series, the pressure is on for players like Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel to make an impact.
With no more T20I series scheduled before the T20 World Cup in June, every performance against Afghanistan carries added weight. Jitesh Sharma, in particular, has a chance to solidify his position as the preferred wicketkeeper-batter, having already moved ahead of Ishan Kishan since his inclusion in the team during the Australia series last year. Despite his contributions so far, Sharma is aware that a more substantial innings is needed to strengthen his claim for a more permanent spot.
Similarly, Tilak Varma started his T20I career impressively with notable performances against the West Indies. However, his form has seen a dip since then, with only a handful of significant scores. The effort to develop him as a part-time off-spinner has also not been very fruitful.
Virat Kohli's return to the squad for the second match adds another dimension to the team dynamics, potentially impacting Varma's place in the playing eleven. Axar Patel's recent inclusion in the Test squad against England, coupled with his effective performance in the first T20I against Afghanistan, shows his growing importance in both red and white-ball formats.
Washington Sundar, who has recently made a comeback, is yet to make a notable impact. The second T20I offers him a chance to change this narrative. The pitch in Indore, known for its assistance to batsmen, might favor Sharma and Varma, but it also demands that Axar and Sundar be at their best with the ball.
However, underestimating the Afghan team would be a mistake. They have players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, and the experienced Mohammad Nabi, who are capable of dominating any bowling attack. In the absence of Rashid Khan, the Afghan side still boasts talents like Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
A collective effort from these players could lead to a highly competitive and exciting match. As the Indian players aim to cement their spots in the team, they must not overlook the potential challenge posed by the Afghan side, capable of springing a surprise.
Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan.
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