India hold a 1-0 series lead entering the second T20I of the three-match series scheduled for Tuesday, September 15. The all-important encounter, where
the series is on the line, will be played at the iconic venue of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Shreyas Iyer leads the Men in Blue with Tilak Varma as deputy, while Ibrahim Zadran captains Afghanistan. The Indians have welcomed the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who warmed the bench in the first game, may be drafted into the XI. Afghanistan's core squad remains unchanged since the T20 World Cup, with Naveen-ul-Haq returning after a shoulder injury.
The first T20I was won by the visitors with a convincing margin, as they crossed the finishing line with 6.2 overs and seven wickets to spare. Meanwhile, there were a few exciting matchups in the series opener, which caught everyone's attention. Abhishek Sharma top-scored for India with his 82 off 32, while Arshdeep Singh (3-19 of 4 overs) impressed with the ball. For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Omarzai made all-round contributions with his unbeaten half-century, while also accounting for a dismissal during the run chase.
Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out for in AFG vs IND, 2nd T20I:
3. Rashid Khan vs Abhishek Sharma
The first battle centres on Rashid Khan versus Abhishek Sharma. Rashid Khan remains Afghanistan's premier spinner and a key figure in their middle-overs strategy. The skilled spin bowler looked quite pale in the first T20I, going for 34 runs in his 3.4 overs, while failing to pick up a wicket on a track that had a lot to offer for the spinners.
Abhishek, meanwhile, was the Player of the Match for his blistering knock on Sunday, which was laced with seven fours and an equinumerous amount of maximums. However, he will need to navigate Rashid's variations carefully, as the Afghan spinner's experience in T20 cricket makes him a formidable opponent in the middle phases of the innings.
2. Azmatullah Omarzai vs Varun Chakravarthy
Azmatullah Omarzai's bowling against Varun Chakravarthy's batting presents the second crucial matchup. While the Afghan cricketer was one of the key performers in the series opener with his attacking 64 off just 44 balls, he couldn't really get going against the Indian leg-spinner. The duo came face-to-face for 13 deliveries, and Chakravarthy certainly got the better of Omarzai, allowing only seven to be scored.
Chakravarthy's return to the Indian squad adds depth to the bowling attack, but his ability will be tested against Afghanistan's all-rounder in the upcoming contest once again. Omarzai's role in Afghanistan's batting unit makes this a significant contest in the middle overs. With form on his side, he will look to play with an attacking intent to Chakravarthy.
1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Jasprit Bumrah
Rahmanullah Gurbaz versus Jasprit Bumrah forms the third but probably the most important player battle for the Tuesday fixture. Bumrah's return after injury gives India a significant advantage with the new ball and it was on display, as he conceded just 26 runs in his four-over spell. He instantly got the better of Gurbaz, as the Afghan counterpart departed for a two-ball duck, edging one to the first slip.
The Afghan opener will once again be up against world cricket's one of the most premier fast bowlers in the powerplay, setting the tone for the hosts' innings. This opening phase battle could prove decisive in determining the match's trajectory. It will be interesting to see what Bumrah brings out of his magician's hat in the upcoming contest against Gurbaz.
