Afghanistan vs India, ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024 Full score card

OUT! RUN OUT! An anti-climatic end to the innings but still 13 runs come off the last over! Naveen-ul-Haq lands this back of a length, outside off, slower too, and angles away as well, Axar Patel swings across the line but misses, Arshdeep Singh takes off to steal a bye but Axar is very late to react, Rahmanullah Gurbaz throws it to the bowler and Naveen runs to break the stumps with Axar well short of his crease. India finishes on 181/8!

Naveen-ul-Haq has to reload that one! He goes full again but way outside off, Axar Patel lets it go and gets the wide.

FOUR! You bet he can! Naveen-ul-Haq bowls this slower, full and outside off, Axar Patel opens the face of the bat at the last moment, the ball flies off the outside edge over short third man for another boundary.

Overpitched and on middle, Axar Patel drills it down the ground to the right of long on for a couple of more runs. Can Axar Patel take India to 180 here?

FOUR! A freebie and Axar Patel takes full advantage here! This is a low full toss, outside off, Axar Patel crunches it through covers and as there is not protection in the deep, the ball races away to the fence for a boundary.

Short of a length and outside off, Axar Patel cuts it uppishly but well wide of deep point for a brace.

Naveen-ul-Haq nails the wide yorker this time, outside off, Axar Patel fails to lay a bat on it.

Goes full but well outside off, Axar Patel leaves it alone. Wided.

A low full toss, angling into the leg side, Arshdeep Singh digs it out towards square leg but Axar Patel denies the single.

Pitched up and on off, Arshdeep Singh heaves it away wide of deep square leg for a brace.

Arshdeep Singh walks out to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! Fazalhaq Farooqi has three now! He bangs this one into the pitch, but takes all the pace off, it is going well over the head of the batter. However, Ravindra Jadeja still tries to ramp it away but miscues it off the toe-end towards wide of short third where Gulbadin Naib moves to his left and takes a nice catch. India seven down now and Afghanistan has pulled things back slightly here!

FOUR! Finds the gap! Short of a length and on middle, Ravindra Jadeja gets on top of the bounce and pulls it away perfectly between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Fazalhaq Farooqi nails the yorker this time, on middle, angling in, Ravindra Jadeja uses his feet but fails to dig it out and gets hit on the pads.

Back of a length and around leg, Ravindra Jadeja nudges it towards square leg and comes back for the second run. Sloppy work from the Afghanistan fielders!

Axar Patel walks in to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! Naveen-ul-Haq gets his man this time! No need for a review now. Fullish delivery, outside off, keeps it out of reach for the batter, Hardik Pandya still goes after it but only manages to slice it up in the air towards sweeper covers, Azmatullah Omarzai judges it well and takes a good catch. A fiery knock from Pandya finally comes to an end!

Another big shout from the Afghans, and the finger goes up! However, Hardik Pandya has taken the review here. Naveen-ul-Haq this time goes right in the blockhole, on middle and leg, angling in, Hardik Pandya tries to heave it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. UltraEdge shows that no bat is involved and Ball Tracking indicates that it is going down the leg side, Good review from India!

For the third time in this inning, the ball seems to be lost and we will have another slight delay. It is found eventually and the play can now continue.

SIX! OUT OF THE PARK! Naveen-ul-Haq goes for the slower delivery, but serves this right in the slot, on middle, Hardik Pandya clears his front leg, uses all his power, and muscles it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. It sounded very sweet and we have lost another ball as this one goes out of the stadium. 98 METERS!

Pitches it up but way down the leg side, Hardik Pandya misses his flick. Wided.

Back of a length and outside off, Hardik Pandya cuts it straight to point.

Fuller and on off, Ravindra Jadeja goes down and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a run.

Short of a length and around off, Hardik Pandya steers it through point for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja is the new man in. Also, Naveen-ul-Haq (2-0-17-0) comes back into the attack.

OUT! TAKEN! A huge sigh of relief for Afghanistan! Fazalhaq Farooqi gets the big breakthrough with another slower one, full and on off, Suryakumar Yadav tries to fetch it from there and slog it leg side, but fails to get underneath it and toe-ends it high in the air towards long off, Mohammad Nabi settles under it and pouches it safely under pressure. SKY goes back after a fine fifty!

FOUR! FIFTY FOR SKY! He is not the number one T20I batter for no reason! Hard length this time, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav has a swipe at it, gets it from the inside half of the bat as the ball teases the mid on fielder to the fence and wins the race.

SIX! MASSIVE FROM SKY! Fazalhaq Farooqi goes slower again, a touch fuller and on middle, Suryakumar Yadav reads it early, puts his weight on the back foot and smokes it way, way over the long on fence for another biggie.

Overpitched and outside off, Hardik Pandya squeezes it towards deep point for a run. That brings up the 50-run partnership between theses two batters!

Good length and on off, pace on this time, Suryakumar Yadav gets a but hurried and miscues his heave towards long off for a single.

Clever bowling! Fazalhaq Farooqi takes all the pace off here, back of a length and on off, angling away, Suryakumar Yadav goes way early through his slog and misses.

Fires this one in, full and on middle and leg, Hardik Pandya goes down to paddle it away but fails to connect. 12 runs off the over and India are on track for big total here!

A slight halt in play as the ball seems to have been lost and the fourth umpire runs out with the box of balls again. However, the old ball is found and the match can now continue.

SIX! SMACKED! Noor Ahmad gives this one some more flight but serves it in the slot, on middle, Hardik Pandya clears his front leg away and tonks it over the long on fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Flighted delivery, full and on off, Hardik Pandya backs away, opens the face of the bat slightly and smacks it with perfect timing over extra covers for a boundary.

'Catch it' is the call but it lands safely! Flighted, full and on off, Suryakumar Yadav goes inside out and lifts it but fails to get the time, the ball goes high in the air and drops well wide of sweeper covers. They cross.

Tossed up, full and on off, Suryakumar Yadav pushes it wide of extra covers where the fielder makes a good diving stop.

Floated, short and around off, Hardik Pandya tries to smack it away but goes a bit too hard on that, ends up bunting it down to long off for a single.

On the shorter side and outside off stump, Hardik Pandya rocks back and slashes the ball away in front of the point region for a single.

TWO WIDES! Bowled on a length and angled well outside the off stump, this one goes beyond the tramline and the keeper gets a bad bounce as well which allows the batters to take the extra run.

SIX! As clean a strike as you'll see! Pitched up in the slot and outside off stump, Suryakumar Yadav goes deep in the crease and shimmies just a bit to the off side before getting under it and whacking it straight down the ground for another biggie. SKY yet again holds the pose!

Quite full and flirting with the tramline outside off, Hardik Pandya opts to go chasing after it and almost falls over as he hammers the ball to deep cover for just a single.

Too full and probably going beyond the tramline outside off, Suryakumar Yadav moves around and goes past the off stump before toe-ending the ball behind point for just a single.

Nicely bowled! Gets the yorker in around the off stump line and Suryakumar Yadav can only manage to squeeze it out the deck on the off side.

Bowled back of a length and on a tight line over off stump, Suryakumar Yadav bends his back a bit and plays it away down towards mid on.

FOUR! Rashid Khan ends a good over with a freebie and Hardik Pandya doesn't miss out on it. Short and wide outside off stump, Pandya rocks back and slaps the ball in front of square on the off side to pick up a boundary.

Good, attacking bowling from Rashid Khan here. Tossed up and drifting onto middle and leg, Hardik Pandya watchfully blocks it down the pitch.

Lovely delivery! The regular leg break now, flighted up a bit full and around off stump. Hardik Pandya leans on to block but the ball grips and rips past the outside edge.

Floated up a bit, quite full and on the off stump line, Hardik Pandya blocks it off.

Pushed through quicker and fuller outside the off stump, a hint of turn on this occasion. Hardik Pandya leans on to push it away but the ball zips past the outside edge.

Drags the length well short and bowls it over off and middle, Suryakumar Yadav goes on the back foot and whips it away down to wide long on for a single.

Slower one, floated up outside the off stump, Hardik Pandya looks to drive off the front foot but is beaten past the outside edge.

Nice and full, bowled outside off stump, Suryakumar Yadav drives it square on the off side and picks up a single in the deep.

FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav seems to be in full flight at the moment. Overpitched and outside off, SKY gets on the front foot and forces the lofted drive wide of mid off and the ball runs away to the fence. SKY holds the pose after that shot as well and Azmatullah Omarzai is under pressure from the get-go.

On a fuller length and outside off, Suryakumar Yadav gets on the front foot and hammers it away well wide of long off and picks up a couple of runs.

FOUR! Oh, that was audacious from Suryakumar Yadav and the 100 comes up for India. Azmatullah Omarzai looks for the wide yorker but serves a low full toss around the tramline. Yadav shimmies in his crease and eventually, he just plants his front leg well across the off stump and swats it away flat in between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a crunching boundary.

Starts from over the stumps and bowls it slightly shorter around off, Hardik Pandya plays it late and with soft hands wide of deep third and picks up a single.

Back of a length and outside off, punched away on the up and through the cover region for a single.

Close but not close enough! Naveen-ul-Haq pitches the ball up on the stumps, Hardik Pandya gets on the front foot again and drives it with a straight bat. Naveen does well to get a right hand on it on the follow-through and the ball deflects onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. Suryakumar Yadav is backing up quite a bit but shows good reflexes to turn back and slide the bat back in. It is sent upstairs and the replays show that Yadav did manage to get back in before the bails came off. NOT OUT!

Is that a run-out at the non-striker's end? The Afghanistan players look confident here. It definitely deflects off Naveen ul-Haq's fingers but the replay shows that SKY has just put his bat down in time.

FOUR! Glorious from Hardik Pandya, absolutely glorious. On a good length and around off stump, Pandya walks down the pitch, keeps a still head and drives it nicely through extra cover for a lovely boundary.

Suryakumar Yadav moves around in the crease and Naveen bowls it slightly back of a length and outside off. Yadav gets a bit squared up and gets an outside edge past the diving man at backward point for a single.

Pitches this one up, pace on and around off stump, Hardik Pandya plays it on the up and pushes it gently towards cover for an easy single.

Starts the new spell from over the wicket and bowls it wider on the crease. It is slower too and angled into the pads, Suryakumar Yadav flicks it away through square leg and turns the strike over.

Seemed like the googly but it was on a shorter length and Rashid angled that one onto off and middle. Hardik Pandya with a solid block off the front foot.

Hardik Pandya is the next man in for India.

OUT! LBW! Excellent review! A prolonged appeal for LBW from the bowler and the keeper but the umpire says no. Rashid Khan reviews it immediately as he feels it was pad first and then bat and the third umpire is called in. This is the regulation leg break, bowled flatter on middle and turning back in sharply. Shivam Dube opts to go on the back foot and is late on the dab and seems to have got a bit of glove onto the pads. However, the replays and UltraEdge confirm that there was no bat involved and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds and Rashid has this third wicket.

A misfield from Noor Ahmad but it doesn't cost an extra run. Flighted up around the off stump line, Suryakumar Yadav leans forward and plays it towards extra cover for one.

SIX! BANG! Every time these two go up against each other, Suryakumar Yadav seems to have the number of Rashid Khan. Another ball that is pretty full and pushed through outside off stump, Yadav plants his front leg across, fetches the ball and nails the slog sweep over deep square leg for a biggie.

Nicely bowled! The top spinner now, on a length and around off stump, Suryakumar Yadav leans on and gets the front leg across looking to sweep but misses. The ball goes off his arm and into the body.

FOUR! Runs right after the drinks break for Suryakumar Yadav. Tossed up full and on the leg stump, SKY gets inside the line and sweeps it firmly wide of the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Drinks break! The first innings is very nicely poised as Afghanistan have managed to get rid of India's top order and for the first time, Rashid Khan has been able to pick up wickets against India in this format. However, India now have a couple of players who are excellent players of spin and it will be a bit of a challenge for Rashid and Noor Ahmad to simply have their way. Let's see how the next 10 overs pan out.

Quicker one, full again and on middle, Suryakumar Yadav tucks it through square leg for one.

Darts this one full, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav flicks it away nicely wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Drags his length back, on leg, Shivam Dube flicks it off the back foot through mid-wicket for a run.

A slight delay here as the ball seems to have been lost in the crowd thanks to that biggie from Shivam Dube and the fourth umpire comes out to the middle with the box of balls. The onfield umpires pick one and play can get underway again.

SIX! BANG! First one of the match for Dube! Floated, full and on off, Shivam Dube gives himself a bit of room, extends his arms and clobbers it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Goes short and around off, Shivam Dube punches it straight to extra covers.

Tossed up, full and on off, Shivam Dube drills it wide of sweeper covers for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Top shot! Rashid Khan gives this one some air, full and on middle, Suryakumar Yadav goes down, uses his wrists nicely and sweeps it away hard and wide of deep square leg for a boundary. 7 runs and a huge wicket off the over!

Short again and around off, Shivam Dube punches it through covers for a single and gets off the mark.

A googly, short and on middle, turns away, Shivam Dube stays back and blocks it out.

Shivam Dube is the new man in.

OUT! TAKEN! Rashid Khan is turning the game on its head here! He gets the big fish, Virat Kohli now. Flighted delivery, full and on off, Virat Kohli backs away a bit and tries to loft it over extra covers, but the ball did not turn enough and he ends up hitting it much straighter towards long off where Mohammad Nabi takes a fine catch. Kohli goes after a run-a-ball knock and India are three down now. That was an uncanny mistake from the Indian stalwart.

Uppish but safe! A bit short and outside off, Virat Kohli slaps it aerially but the ball just bounces in front of extra covers. The fielder fumbles a bit but no harm done.

Tossed up, full and around off, Virat Kohli drives it firmly, the fielder at extra covers dives but fails to stop it as long off cuts it out. Two runs taken!

A single to end the over as this shortish delivery is punched to sweeper covers by Kohli. 6 runs off the over then!

Noor Ahmad continues to bowl quick, drags his length back once more, Suryakumar Yadav mistimes his cut wide of point for a quick run.

Pushed through quicker, short again, on off, Suryakumar Yadav dabs it down to point.

Goes short and outside off, Virat Kohli moves back and cuts it towards deep point for another run.

Fires this one full but down the leg side, Virat Kohli leaves it alone. Wided.

Off the mark right away. Floated up quite full and on middle, Suryakumar Yadav gets on the front foot and wrists the ball away along the turf through mid-wicket for a single.

Starts with a full and wide one, Virat Kohli reaches out and hammers it away to long off for a single.

Suryakumar Yadav is the new batter in. Also, Noor Ahmad has now been brought into the attack.

OUT! LBW! A huge shout by the Afghans and up goes the finger! Is that the first wicket for Rashid Khan against India in T20Is? We will have to wait and see as Pant takes the review here. Rashid bowls the leg-break this time, full and on middle and off, turns in a bit, Rishabh Pant takes his chance and goes for the reverse sweep but the ball is very full for that shot, he misses it and gets hit on the pads. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. India lose a big wicket and a review as well, and Rashid Khan opens his account against India in T20Is.

FOUR LEG BYES! Off the pads! Rashid Khan dishes out the googly and bowls it full around the leg stump, Rishabh Pant goes down to sweep but misses and the ball just clips the pads as it goes past the keeper and runs away to the fence.

A googly now, short and on middle, turns in, Virat Kohli picks it up and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Flatter, short and on off, Virat Kohli tries to cut but fails to beat point.

Short and on leg, Rishabh Pant clips it through square leg for a run.

Rashid Khan starts with a floated delivery, full and on off, Virat Kohli drills it towards long off for a single.

Rashid Khan brings himself into the attack right after the Powerplay.

Virat Kohli gets lucky there! Flatter, full and on middle, Rishabh Pant drills it down the ground, Mohammad Nabi gets down and gets his fingertips on it as the ball crashes onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. The replay shows that Kohli has got his bat inside the crease in time.

Did the ball deflect off Nabi's hand? The umpires have gone upstairs to have a look but Mohammad Nabi isn't excited one bit. The replays show that the ball did deflect off Nabi's fingers but Virat Kohli had his bat planted in the crease. NOT OUT comes up on the big screen.

Quicker, short and on off, Rishabh Pant punches it to extra covers.

FOUR! Rishabh Pant is taking on 'The President' here! A loopy delivery, full and around off, Rishabh Pant backs away a bit and lofts it beautifully over extra covers for four more runs.

DROPPED AND FOUR! That is a huge moment in this game! Mohammad Nabi gives this some air again, full and on middle, Rishabh Pant goes for the traditional sweep this time, gets a top edge that flies high in the air towards deep mid-wicket, Naveen-ul-Haq runs to his left, gets under it but does not even get his hands on it as the ball deflects off his chest and goes for another boundary. Pant gets a life and this could be very costly for the Afghans!

FOUR! Nicely played! Floated, full and around middle again, Rishabh Pant goes down on one knee and nails his reverse sweep over point for a boundary.

Risky single! Tossed up, full and on middle, Virat Kohli goes down and paddles it to short fine leg and sets off for the run, Pant responds well too. The fielder makes a direct hit at the batter's end but the replay shows that Pant has made his ground comfortably.

The Indians are wearing black armbands in honor of the late David Johnson, a former Indian fast bowler who played a couple of Test matches for the national side. Johnson tragically passed away earlier in the day at the age of 52.

Another slower delivery, bowled well into the pitch and over middle and leg. Rishabh Pant gets cramped for room and ends up just blocking it back on the deck.

Bowled back of a length and at the body, Virat Kohli tucks it off the back foot and in front of square leg for a run to follow-up the big hit.

SIX! 'Kohli goes down the ground, Kohli goes out of the ground.' Another pace-off delivery, bowled into the pitch and around off stump, Virat Kohli holds his shape and closes the face of the bat a bit before lifting it straight back over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Back of a length and a bit wide of the off stump, Virat Kohli hangs back and punches it away straight to the man at covers.

Takes pace off and bowls it back of a length around off, Virat Kohli steps out again looking to drive but the ball doesn't quite come on and Kohli eases it towards cover.

Starts off on the shorter length and bowls it around off, Virat Kohli decides to use his feet and comes forward before reaching out and slapping it away in front of deep point for a single.

On the shorter side and around off, Virat Kohli goes across and on the back foot before working it away in front of square leg for one.

In the air but lands safely! Tossed up a bit around middle stump, Virat Kohli gets down on one knee and plays a lofted sweep shot off the top edge and gets it over the backward square leg region for a couple of more runs.

Extra bounce! Quicker and shorter, angled in from around middle, Virat Kohli backs away to cut but is beaten by the additional bounce.

A bit shorter and at the stumps, Virat Kohli uses his wrists and swats the ball away to the right of mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Nicely stroked away! Flighted delivery outside off stump, Rishabh Pant leans right on and plays it a bit late to pierce the gap at covers. The fielder chases it down and puts the slide across to pull the ball back in, three runs for Pant there.

A bit more round-arm and flatter around off, Virat Kohli goes back and across before working it away in front of mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Nabi to continue here.

FOUR! Easy pickings and Rishabh Pant is up and running! A half-volley angling onto the pads, Pant just flicks it away behind square leg and the ball races away into the fence. Still, a good over from Fazalhaq Farooqi and Afghanistan have made a fine start.

WIDE! Full and trying to attack the pads but this is spilled well down the leg side for a wide.

Rishabh Pant walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! The change of pace has worked and Rohit Sharma has thrown his wicket away. Fazalhaq Farooqi knows that Rohit is itching to get a big hit away and pitches the ball up within the lines of the stumps but smartly takes pace off the ball as well. Rohit crouches a bit and goes hard at it but only manages to lift it a mile high and towards mid on. His opposite number, Rashid Khan settles under it and takes a fine catch. Yet another dismissal for Rohit against the left-armed pacer and that's the 8th time now he has got out to a left-armer inside the Powerplay in T20Is.

Tap and run! Back of a length and angling across the right-hander, it comes slower off the deck and Virat Kohli hangs back before angling it away to deep point for a run.

On a hard length outside off and angling away, Virat Kohli stands upright and punches it sweetly but straight to the man at covers.

WIDE! On the fuller length but pushed well wide of the off stump, left alone for a wide.

Bowls this one back of a length and angles it away from the right-hander, Rohit Sharma presses back and just pushes it in front of point for a single.

Early drama! Fazalhaq Farooqi pitches the ball around leg stump and tries to shape it back in, Rohit Sharma gets down on one knee and looks to whack it across the line but misses and gets hit on the back leg. A big shout for LBW but the umpire remains unmoved. A wild slog from Rohit Sharma and he missed it completely and Afghanistan have taken the review.  The big question is whether it pitched in line or not. No bat on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is just pitching outside leg. The original decision of NOT OUT stands.

Bowled flatter and at the stumps, just holding in the deck a bit, Virat Kohli goes back in his crease and plays it back to the bowler.

On a length and sliding onto the pads, Rohit Sharma tucks it away around the corner and rotates the strike.

Bowled on the shorter side and angled into the batter, Rohit Sharma tries to back away and go over the infield but mistimes the shot to mid off.

Comes from over the stumps now and drifts it into the legs, Virat Kohli looks to flick off the front foot but misses. The ball rolls off the pads behind square leg and they get a leg bye.

Bowled flatter and on middle and leg, Rohit Sharma gets inside the line and sweeps it hard through backward square leg for a single.

Starts from around the stumps and fires it into the blockhole around middle, Rohit Sharma clears the front leg but can't get under it and hits it straight to mid on. Afghanistan receive their first warning for not starting the over in time.

Afghanistan going with spin early on as Mohammad Nabi is ready to share the attack now.

Nice and full, angling it across the off stump, Rohit Sharma reaches out to drive but miscues it towards mid-wicket for a single. 5 off the first over!

FOUR! Sloppy from the fielder but Rohit Sharma and India are underway. Lovely length, around the top of off and just seaming back in late. Rohit Sharma tentatively pushes at it and squirts the ball off the outside edge and to the right of short third where Hazratullah Zazai dives over the ball and lets it through for a boundary.

Four dots on the trot, tidy thus far from Fazalhaq Farooqi. Nagging length on off stump, not quite full and Rohit Sharma clears the front leg to heave it across the line but the ball beats the inside edge.

Pitched up right on the stumps this time, Rohit Sharma gets on the front foot again and just gently pushes the ball back to the bowler.

Goes full and wide outside the off stump, looking for the big indipper and it doesn't quite come out. Rohit Sharma reaches for it but the ball sneaks under the bat and just inside the tramline.

On the money! Begins from over the stumps and serves it on a good length, trying to shape it back in from around the off stump. Rohit Sharma gets on the front foot and pushes it solidly towards extra cover.

Done with the pre-match formalities! We can see the Afghanistan spread out and take their respective field positions. India are sticking with the same opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Interestingly, both have scored exactly 4042 T20I runs each at the moment. The leading wicket-taker in the World Cup so far, Fazalhaq Farooqi has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

We are moments away from the start of this big clash but before that, the players from both sides make their way out to the middle and line up for their respective national anthems. It will be India's first followed by the national anthem of Afghanistan.

PITCH REPORT - Ian Smith is pitchside. He says that the weather conditions are great and there is a nice breeze going towards the ocean. Adds that the square boundaries are 67m and 58m while the straight hit is 70m. Sunil Gavaskar joins him and points out that there are a few cracks on the surface that could help the wrist spinners. Ends by saying that it is still a good pitch for batting as the ball will come onto the bat nicely.

Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan says that they would have batted first as well but it doesn't matter much in T20 and it is all about the mindset. Adds that he is quite happy with how they have prepared and how the batters have gone about their business in 3 out of the 4 games and now it is all about controlling emotions and playing their natural game. Mentions that being here in West Indies from the start will help a bit and informs that Hazratullah Zazai comes in for Karim Janat.

The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma says that they will bat first. He adds that it looks like a good track, flat and not much grass on it. He expects it to slow down later in the game. Mentions that it looks definitely better than New York but it was important to get the results there. Says that they had a good training session and will look to adapt well. Further adds, that it is different playing in the West Indies as in any other country, they start in the evening but here it is an early start and they enjoy playing here. Informs they have made one change as Kuldeep Yadav comes in for Mohammed Siraj.

India (Playing XI) - Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav (In for Mohammed Siraj), Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Hazratullah Zazai (In for Karim Janat), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

TOSS - The coin is flipped by Rashid Khan but it lands in favor of India. Rohit Sharma opts to BAT first.

India on the other hand played their last game more than a week ago as their final fixture against Canada was washed out but they had won all three games by then. The top order has certainly looked shaky and a lot of focus will be on Virat Kohli and whether or not he can turn this disastrous rut around. One big positive for them is that Suryakumar Yadav has an excellent record against Rashid Khan and India have an unblemished record against Afghanistan at the senior level. Given that India like to play the same XI more often than not, whether or not we will see an extra spinner in the side remains a big question mark. Can India bolster their claim as one of the favorites to win the tournament with another win? Or will we finally see the upcoming Asian side, Afghanistan take down the Asian Powerhouse? We shall find out in a few hours' time. Toss and team news in a bit, stay tuned.

Afghanistan come into the contest having won 3 out of their 4 games in the initial group stage and all three of those wins were pretty convincing, especially the one against the Kiwis. However, they were humbled by West Indies in their final group game and will look to shrug it off quickly as they have played some fantastic cricket in the tournament. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Fazalhaq Farooqi are amongst the leading run-getters and wicket-takers, respectively, and will be key to their success. Skipper, Rashid Khan will also be looking to weave his magic and lead his side to a memorable win.

Hello and a warm welcome to Bridgetown in Barbados where Afghanistan will take on India at the Kensington Oval. This is the first fixture in Group 1 of the Super Eight stage of the competition with the likes of South Africa and England getting a win each in the other group. Given that the top 8 teams of the competition are playing each other, no game can be taken lightly and both sides will be itching to put a win on board and take the early lead.

... MATCH DAY ...

The festival of T20I cricket is in full swing. The Super 8 stages have begun, and for every team, the stakes could not be higher. India and Afghanistan will square off in the third Super 8 encounter at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Both sides are expected to perform well after giving a good account of themselves during the group round and have some high expectations riding on their shoulders. India won three of their matches to finish first in Group A, with the rain playing spoilsport in their final league game. Although their batting display hasn't drawn much attention, the bowlers have received a lot of admiration for their efforts. The Indian supporters will hope that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma make a big comeback because they haven't been playing at their best. The middle order has been able to withstand pressure thanks to the batting prowess of Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. Shivam Dube is likely to perform better on the Windies' spinning surface after having a strong performance in the most recent encounter. In addition to having a deep batting order, they have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in the squad. Since the conditions at this venue are different from New York, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal could play a key role from here. For some time now, Jasprit Bumrah has been performing at his peak, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down. Their pace battery is formidable, especially when combined with that of Siraj, Arshdeep, and Pandya, who is returning to form. The Men in Blue will be eyeing a winning start to build some momentum heading forward into the tournament. Conversely, Afghanistan are arguably the second-best Asian squad participating in this mega event. They have performed admirably both with the bat and the ball. They may, however, feel some pressure to play better heading into the Super 8 after a crushing loss against the West Indies. Their batting and bowling units had a forgetful game, which resulted in a 104-run loss. Leaving that game aside, the Afghans performed admirably in the group stages, easily defeating the other three teams, which included, New Zealand. Along with Azmatullah Omarzai, their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have demonstrated their abilities with the bat, that said, their middle order could be the chink in their armour as it has been inconsistent. Their bowling has displayed much better stats with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen troubling the batters in the initial phases followed by the spin magic of Rashid and Noor Ahmad. This is expected to be a nail-biting contest between the two Asian teams. Which team are you supporting?