On paper, the upcoming three-match T20 series looks heavily tilted in India’s favour. It is a contest between the world No. 10 side and the world No. 1 team, who are also the reigning world champions. That naturally creates the impression that India could dominate the series and make it a one-sided affair. However, I see the contest being somewhat closer than the rankings might suggest.
India and Afghanistan have already faced each other in Test and ODI cricket in June, with India winning both convincingly. The T20 format, however, could produce a different kind of contest. I expect Afghanistan to have a better chance of competing in this series, particularly because of the nature of their bowling attack and the quality of their spin options.
India’s decision to field what is virtually a full-strength squad is also significant. With the Asian Games coming up, there is a timely opportunity for players to get some game time, but India’s selection could also indicate the level of respect they have for Afghanistan as a T20 side and the threat they believe Afghanistan can pose in this format.
Hardik Pandya, who is not part of the squad, will likely to have a central role in India’s plans soon if he is fully fit and available. The positive news is that he appears to be making his way back to full fitness. His presence would be important to the balance of the side, particularly because India have had to deal with the absence of Harshit Rana.
Rana’s absence is unfortunate and could have an impact on how India structure their playing XI. Yash Thakur comes into consideration after making his debut against Zimbabwe and picking up a couple of wickets in both of his matches. That is encouraging for him, and he should be capable of making a contribution if selected.
The absence of Rana could also influence India’s thinking around their bowling combination. One possible approach would be to go with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy providing the additional seam-bowling options. That could allow India to select three specialist spinners and create a three-seamer, three-spinner combination.
Such a combination would represent a slight change in balance for India. Instead of going with four seamers and two spinners, or another variation, they could choose to strengthen their spin resources. Much will depend on how they assess the roles of Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Both Dube and Nitish offer fairly similar options to the team in terms of what they provide. Their bowling credentials will once again be important, because their ability to contribute with the ball adds another dimension to India’s combination. With Rana unavailable, the bowling options provided by players such as Dube and Nitish become even more relevant when considering the overall balance.
It will also be interesting to see whether Dube and Nitish get an opportunity to play together or whether India use them separately. Either way, their contributions with the ball will be closely watched because they have an important role to play in determining how flexible India can be with their selection.
I also think it is a good decision for India to play Jasprit Bumrah if he is fully fit. There may be some questions about whether he needs to be involved in this particular series, but I believe there is value in having him play. At the same time, I do not expect him to necessarily feature in all three matches.
Against a very good Afghanistan side, the series provides Bumrah with an opportunity to get back onto the field and play competitive cricket, particularly with the Asian Games approaching. His involvement should also give India the chance to assess their bowling combination against a strong opposition.
The batting line-up presents another interesting selection question. Sanju Samson is back in the squad after missing the Zimbabwe series, but it remains difficult to see how he fits into India’s front-line top four. There is a possibility that India could find a way to accommodate Samson alongside Abhishek, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan, but that would require a player to miss out.
Shreyas Iyer is another factor in the equation. He does not necessarily need to bat as low as No. 5, which could allow him to move up to No. 4 and create another possible route for India to accommodate their batting options. With so many players competing for positions, Samson could once again find himself missing out despite what he has previously offered the side.
That would be a particularly tough outcome for Samson. Given his experience and what he has provided India in the past, leaving him out would be a difficult selection call. However, with only three matches in the series, I do not think India should necessarily use the batting order as an opportunity for rotation.
Rotation could make more sense with the bowling group, particularly when it comes to managing Bumrah, but I do not see the same need to rotate the batting line-up during such a short series. India have a strong group of batting options, and the three matches could instead be used to establish the best possible combination.
Varun Chakaravarthy’s return is another major positive for India. It is important that he has a big series and makes an impact. Axar Patel is also expected to play, while Washington Sundar could be another option if he is fully fit. Overall, India appear to have considerable strength and depth heading into the three matches.
Afghanistan, however, should not be dismissed simply because of their ranking. I have high hopes for them in this series, particularly because of the amount of experience and talent they possess. Ibrahim Zadran taking over the T20 captaincy on a permanent basis is another important development for the side.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s return is also significant. I have always been a big fan of what he offers with the ball, and having Naveen and Fazalhaq Farooqi operating with the new ball gives Afghanistan a potent seam attack. Their all-round options, including Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai, further complement the bowling resources.
Afghanistan’s biggest strength remains their spin department. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi give them plenty of experience and variety. It is a bowling group that looks well balanced, and in Indian conditions, they have the kind of spin resources that can cause problems.
There is an interesting element to the series as well because Afghanistan will technically be playing a home series in Delhi, despite feeling more like an away side. The situation is unusual, and even small details, such as which dressing room they use, could feel slightly strange. Nevertheless, those circumstances should not take away from the quality they possess.
I do not necessarily see Afghanistan as a typical world No. 10 side. The rankings place them there, but I believe their talent suggests they are capable of competing at a much higher level. For me, the biggest question is not whether Afghanistan have enough ability. They clearly do. The bigger
question is whether they believe they can compete against a team as strong as India.
If Afghanistan can approach the series with that belief, their bowling attack gives them a genuine opportunity to challenge India. Rashid, Noor, Mujeeb and Nabi provide considerable spin strength, while the seam attack led by Naveen and Farooqi can also create problems. At the top of the batting order, Rahmanullah Gurbaz could hold one of the keys to how Afghanistan perform.
I will be following the series with considerable interest, particularly with the Asian Games coming afterwards. India remain the clear favourites, and I still expect them to win the series. Their decision to select a virtually full-strength side reflects that expectation and the quality they have available.
At the same time, I hope Afghanistan can make this a much more competitive contest than the rankings suggest. They have the talent and the experience, and this three-match series could provide them with an opportunity to start believing more strongly in their ability to compete against the best sides in the world.
