IND vs AFG will lock horns each other in the three-match T20I series ahead of the eagerly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The opening fixture will be contested at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on January 11.
The Men in Blue have the upper hand in the T20I series against Afghanistan, having won four of the five games they have played together. Afghanistan did not emerge victorious on any of the occasions as the one game ended without a result.
The hosts have an increased edge coming into the series, as they have produced exceptional performance in the last T20I series. India clinched the five-match T20I series against Australia 4-1 and then tied the three-game series against South Africa. Afghanistan, on the other hand, won the three-match series against United Arab Emirates 2-1. Both sides will eye for a win in the upcoming game to take the lead in the series.
IND vs AFG Match Details
| Particulars | Match | Venue | Date & Time | Live Broadcast | Live Streaming |
| Details | India vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I | Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. | Thursday, January 11, 7:00 PM | Sports18 | JioCinema |
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali is balanced which assists both batters and bowlers. Paces will benefit more at this surface as they will likely get good bounce in the initial overs with the new ball. The batters, on the other hand, can score easily when the game progresses. In addition, the spinners may also get some wickets in the middle overs. As per the previous results of the T20 games played at this venue, the teams bowling first have registered more wins than those who batted first.
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head Record:
| Matches played | India won | Afghanistan won | No Result |
| 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
IND vs AFG Predicted Playing XIs:
India:
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar
Afghanistan:
Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Qais Ahmad
IND vs AFG Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter
Rohit Sharma (India):
Rohit Sharma, who is set to make his return to the T20I side after a break of more than a year, is expected to excel with the bat in the opening fixture against Afghanistan. The India captain is likely to continue his aggressive approach in the powerplay which he showcased in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Probable Best Bowler:
Kuldeep Yadav (India)
The in-form Kuldeep Yadav will be eager to produce another notable spell in the forthcoming game. The seasoned wrist spinner recently made a career-best 5/17 in India’s final T20I game versus Proteas and helped India to register a convincing 106-run win to level the series.
Today’s Match Prediction: India to win the match
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.