Afghanistan vs India Prediction, 1st T20I – Who will win today’s match between AFG vs IND?

Afghanistan will take on India in the first T20I of the series on Sunday, September 13, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The series marks a significant occasion, with Afghanistan set to host a bilateral series in India for the first time.

Ibrahim Zadran will lead Afghanistan for the first time and will have several experienced players at his disposal, including Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Afghanistan will look to make the most of the conditions and put up a strong challenge against the hosts.

Meanwhile, India enter the series on the back of a dominant 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, which features the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan and Ravi Bishnoi. The Men in Blue will be keen to find the right combination and build momentum ahead of the Asian Games, with several players looking to make a strong impression in the series.

AFG vs IND: Match Details

Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi: Pitch Report

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi generally offers a batting-friendly surface in T20 cricket, with good pace and bounce allowing batters to play their shots. The short boundaries and quick outfield can aid aggressive stroke-making, while pacers could get some movement with the new ball and spinners may find assistance as the pitch slows during the middle overs. For a night game, dew could become an important factor in the second innings, potentially making batting easier and making it harder for bowlers to grip the ball.

AFG vs IND: Head-to-Head T20I Record

AFG vs IND: Predicted Playing XIs

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran (C), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

India

Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

AFG vs IND: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma could be the key batter for India in this clash. He has amassed 1,629 runs in 56 T20 matches at an impressive strike rate of 187.25. His aggressive approach in the powerplay will be crucial, especially at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where the conditions and relatively short boundaries can suit his attacking style. If Sharma gets India off to a flying start, he could put Afghanistan’s bowlers under significant pressure.

Probable Best Bowler: Arshdeep Singh

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh could be the key bowler for India in this clash. He has picked up 135 wickets in 91 T20 matches and will be expected to play a crucial role with his variations and pace. His ability to maintain tight lines and lengths, while mixing up his deliveries, could trouble Afghanistan’s batters and potentially change the course of the game.

Today's Match Prediction: India to win the match