India aim to maintain perfect start against Afghanistan

 

“So, we’ve got to dust ourselves off … (for) a big match against India, which is going to be a great spectacle.

 

“I know the boys will be really, really up for it,” he said.

 

Despite a good start against Bangladesh in Dharamsala last Friday, Afghanistan failed to build its innings and was bundled out for 156 runs. From 83-2, it lost eight wickets for just 73 runs in a six-wicket defeat.

 

But after beating five-time champions Australia in their opening match, India has gained extra confidence for the rest of the group stage matches.

 

India beat Australia by six wickets on Sunday in a thrilling, low-scoring game at Chennai, with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav combining for five wickets to bowl out the Aussies for 199. India struggled initially and was three wickets down for two runs within 12 deliveries before Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli joined forces to guide the hosts to victory, Associated Press reported.

 

“It feels very good when you defeat big teams, and your confidence definitely goes up,” Jadeja said. “I won’t say it will be easy in front of the other teams because every team is good. But if you win in front of the big teams, you have a different level of confidence.”

 

That makes India a hot favorite against No. 9-ranked Afghanistan.

 

While the Chennai pitch had plenty to offer the spinners, the Delhi wicket is expected to be harder and offer less turn. And the shorter boundaries should prove advantageous for batters. South Africa belted a World Cup record total of 428-5 in the first game there on the weekend and Sri Lanka replied with 326.

 

Changes, if any, will be minimal for the home team. India still has concerns over the health of opener Shubman Gill, who is struggling with a virus.