ODI World Cup 2023: India vs Afghanistan, Match 9 - Top player battles to watch out for

India and Afghanistan will lock horns in the ninth match of the World Cup 2023. The contest between both Asian sides will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, where South Africa notched up the highest total of the World Cup against Sri Lanka recently. 

India will go to the contest with confidence as they beat Australia by six wickets in their first World Cup 2023 game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Afghanistan, who lost their opening match against Bangladesh by six wickets, will look to perform a turnaround against the hosts in Delhi.

In this game, eyes will be set on some top-notch battles between Indian batters and Afghanistan bowlers. On Delhi’s flat track, Indian batters may wreak havoc on Afghan bowlers, but talented players such as Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Naveen-ul-Haq will have to step up with the ball and rein in Indian batters.

Here are three player battles to watch out for in the India versus Afghanistan match 

3. Hardik Pandya versus Mohammad Nabi

Hardik Pandya looked fine with both bat and ball in the game against Australia. With the ball, he took the wicket of Adam Zampa, while as a batter, he scored 11 off eight. Pandya is a fine player of spin, so he will be expected to tackle Afghanistan’s lethal spin-bowling unit efficiently in Delhi.

Against spinners, Pandya’s batting strike rate is above 115.00, while his average is 51.25. Noting these numbers, it can be said that the 29-year-old might be seen taking Afghan’s spin attack to the cleaners. However, Mohammad Nabi, who is the most experienced player in the Afghanistan team, will have to step up against Pandya.

Nabi has played 148 ODIs in his vast 14-year one-day international (ODI) career and has picked up 154 wickets at an economy of 4.29. The 38-year-old’s experience is going to be crucial in the upcoming game against the Men in Blue at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Check Here: Live Updates India vs Afghanistan, 9th Match, CWC 2023

2. Rohit Sharma versus Rashid Khan

Rohit Sharma failed to be effective against Australia in Chennai, but the India skipper will look to justify his role with the bat against the Afghan team. Against the Aussies, he was one of the three batters who went back to the pavilion for a duck. On Delhi’s batting pitch, he will be expected to give a perfect start to the team as an opener.

The veteran has played two ODIs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, in which he has amassed 71 runs with a fifty in two games. Afghanistan will count on Rashid Khan to counter the India skipper. Rashid failed to be effective against Bangladesh in Dharamsala, giving away 48 runs without any wickets in nine overs. 

Rohit and Rashid haven’t faced each other in international cricket, but in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the spin wizard has got the better of the India stalwart. Facing each other in six innings of the cash-rich league, Rohit fell against the star Afghan spinner four times.

1. Virat Kohli versus Naveen-ul-Haq

The biggest encounter will be between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq. After the ugly confrontation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), it will be the first time both players will face each other on the field.

India cricket team supporters want Virat to dominate the Afghan pacer with the bat. Naveen, on the other side, will look to shatter the hearts of India's supporters, picking up the batting maestro’s scalp in the important game. The 34-year-old India legend is in amazing form nowadays, while Naveen also looked decent with the ball against Bangladesh, grabbing 1-31 figures in 5.4 overs.

During the match against Bangladesh, the Dharamshala crowd teased the Afghan speedster with ‘Kohli Kohli chants.’ The battle between both players might spice up the contest between Asian sides, as the past alludes that cricket fans take an interest in watching rivalries.

Also check: IND vs AFG Match Prediction