Indian skipper Rohit Sharma received the toss and elected to bat first towards Afghanistan, marking the start of their Tremendous 8 stage journey within the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday (June 20).
Motive behind Mohammad Siraj’s absence
Rohit introduced one change for the match, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav coming in for quick bowler Mohammed Siraj. Rohit believed that the pitch is predicted to get slower within the second innings, which may very well be the rationale behind Siraj’s exclusion from the aspect and the inclusion of the champion spinner.
“The monitor seems alright, don’t know the way it’ll play. Really feel it’ll get slower. Higher than New York (laughs), we received there which was extra vital. Have to adapt now. We’ve been right here 3-4 days and have practiced. Kuldeep Yadav is enjoying rather than Mohammed Siraj,” Rohit stated on the time of the toss.
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India’s spectacular group stage efficiency
India enters this Tremendous 8 conflict using excessive on an unbeaten run within the group stage. They topped Group A with seven factors from 4 matches, which included three emphatic wins and one no-result on account of rain. This dominant efficiency has not solely boosted the staff’s confidence but additionally set excessive expectations as they advance within the match. India’s mix of skilled campaigners and dynamic younger expertise has confirmed to be a formidable mixture to this point.
Afghanistan’s blended fortunes in group stage
Afghanistan, alternatively, had a roller-coaster experience within the group stage. They began sturdy, sustaining an unbeaten document till their ultimate group match. Nevertheless, they confronted a heavy setback towards the co-hosts West Indies, dropping by greater than 100 runs. This defeat uncovered some vulnerabilities, however Afghanistan stays a resilient aspect with the potential to problem any staff on their day.
