ICC World Cup 2023: India gets ready for the clash against Afghanistan

Following their remarkable win over Australia in the inaugural match, Team India is now geared up for their second encounter, where they will take on Afghanistan. This highly anticipated clash is set to unfold today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. While India's victory against the Australians has injected enthusiasm into the team, Afghanistan enters the contest on the back of a defeat against Bangladesh.

Similar to the previous game, the pitch at Delhi is expected to favour batsmen, offering the prospect of a high-scoring encounter. Chasing a big target might not pose a significant challenge for the team batting second. So, it won't come as a surprise if the toss-winning team elects to field first.

In the previous showdown with Australia, India experienced early setbacks in their top-order batting, with the rescue mission led by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Hence, India might contemplate reinforcing their batting lineup to bolster their chances. It's likely that Shardul Thakur will earn a spot in the playing XI. Alternatively, India might opt for the same lineup that featured in the previous game. Unfortunately, Shubman Gill will remain absent from this match due to his hospitalization for Dengue.

On the opposing side, Afghanistan is poised to deploy their formidable spin resources against India. The trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmed is expected to exploit the conditions. In the event Noor Ahmed doesn't make the cut, Afghanistan will likely stick with the same playing XI from their prior match.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 2 PM, with live coverage on the Star Sports Network on television and streaming available on Disney+ Hotstar.