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- Published: June 20, 2024 20:00
New Delhi: Since the start of the Super 8, the entire buzz has been around the batting display of Team India. To spice up things a bit more, the Indian head coach has dropped hints of a ‘Big Change!’ ahead of the Super 8 match in the Playing XI.
India enter the match as clear favourites having tremendous experience at this level of the tournament. However, the entire build-up has been hovering around the surprise change in the Playing XI. This change has fixated every discussion around the playing XI that India could feature in the game against Afghanistan.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Barbados game, Dravid addressed the elephant in the room, “Each situation is unique. It is hard to keep something set in stone. I believe we should be flexible in our thinking and able to adapt to situations….”
We are moments away from India 🇮🇳 vs Afghanistan 🇦🇫
Who are you backing? 👇 pic.twitter.com/k4jvuiDyNF
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 20, 2024
What are the probable changes in the Playing XI?
India’s number one white ball spinner this year, Kuldeep Yadav was rested for all the matches in the group stages. One of the main reasons was due to the fast pitches of the USA which did not favour the spinners. However, with the spin-friendly pitches of the Caribbean, Kuldeep is expected to play a big role for the team.
Afghanistan vs India today in Barbados. The last time these two met in a T20I, they played 2 Super Overs to decide a winner! pic.twitter.com/WsK9kflpZP
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 20, 2024
Dravid on the other hand, took a more diplomatic stance when the question came to the team selection. To throw more googlies at the team selection, Dravid said that either Yuzvendra Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav can be selected for the final XI.
Kohli’s enigma! and the failure of the “RO-KO!” formula
One of the main problems that India needs to sort out is the enigma of Virat Kohli’s form. Kohli had been in scintillating form in this year’s IPL season scoring almost 800 runs to win the Orange Cap.
India vs Afghanistan #indvsAfg #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/v7XDRJslgQ
— Tigerexch (@tigerexch) June 20, 2024
However, that form has not been actively reciprocated in the T20 World Cup. The 35-year-old has looked shaky as an opener with scores of 4,1 & 0 in the three games that he has played. Nevertheless, there’s still room for improvement for him and we can see him feature in the usual opening slot.