New Delhi. The Indian team wants to try different players keeping in mind the ODI World Cup to be held next year, hence Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal may get a chance in the second ODI against Afghanistan. India is leading the series 1-0 after easily winning the rain-affected match in Dharamshala. If India wins the second match, then it will get an unassailable lead in the series. The team management has already said that it will try many different combinations. The current series against Afghanistan is very important for this reason.
Captain Shubman Gill had said that the team’s focus is on trying different combinations and seeing what works best. Kuldeep’s recent form has not been good, but considering his experience, he can be given a chance, as he helps control the game in the middle overs. Even in the IPL, his performance was not as per expectations and he did not look in rhythm in the test match against Afghanistan also. Apart from this, he was not selected in the T20 team for the tour of Ireland and England as well as the Asian Games.
Kuldeep may get a chance
Coach Gautam Gambhir likes versatile players and is focusing on the batting ability of all-rounders, so Washington Sundar is certain to be in the team. This means that Kuldeep may get a chance in place of Harsh Dubey, who made his debut in the last match. Dubey had taken three wickets in the last match. Indian bowlers had performed well in the first match and they would like to continue it. Gurnoor Brar, who made his debut in fast bowling, also impressed and will probably get a chance to play one more match. Prince Yadav, who performed well in IPL, will have to wait for his turn.
The number three spot is vacant after Virat Kohli is out due to injury. Ishan Kishan got a chance at this number in the first match, but Jaiswal has also performed well in the last few months and the team can give him a chance. Rohit Sharma, who was run out early in the first match, will try to make a big impact this time. Afghanistan’s batsmen will have to perform well together. Gurbaz had scored a century in the first ODI, but he did not get much help from the other end. Spin bowling is Afghanistan’s biggest strength, but the trio of Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar and Mohammad Nabi could not trouble the Indian batsmen much in Dharamshala. Lucknow’s pitch may be more suitable for him.
squads of both teams
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Sediqullah Atal, Rehmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Azmatullah Umarzai, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Farid Ahmed Malik, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran, Zia ur Rehman Sharifi.
