Afghanistan Team has been given a reality check by a powerful Indian team in the three-match T20I series, leaving them 2-0 down with one game remaining.
Even though a series victory is out of the question, the Afghans would try all out to win the last match in Bengaluru on January 17.
The Afghans have been on a roll, winning three of their past four bilateral T20I series and outperforming their opponents in the ODI World Cup last year.
However, Team India continues to be their nemesis, winning all six T20I meetings between the two teams.
While the batting has lacked aggressiveness at times in both T20Is in the series, the bowling has been the most disappointing aspect for the Ibrahim Zadran-led team.
India accomplished their 159 and 173-run chases in 17.3 and 15.4 overs, respectively.
With the T20 World Cup commencing in six months, a win in the final will help Afghanistan’s players regain confidence.
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On that point, these are the three things Afghanistan Team must accomplish to win the third T20I against India.
No.1 – Qais Ahmad and Hazratullah Zazai must be in the playing XI
Afghanistan might explore making personnel changes for the series finale to break their T20I curse against India.
The first of the two involves playing leg spinner Qais Ahmad, who has an outstanding T20 record both internationally and domestically.
The kid is coming off a brilliant T20I series against the UAE, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker with six wickets in three games at an average of 11.16 and an economy of 6.70.
Qais has an outstanding overall T20I record, taking 15 wickets in eight games at an average of less than ten and an economy of only 6.08.
The 23-year-old has also demonstrated his abilities in several tournaments throughout the world and has much expertise in the shortest format.
Qais has played 148 T20 games, taking 173 wickets at an average of under 22 and an economy of 7.29.
It’s perplexing that the leggie has warmed the benches in both T20Is and should be in the starting lineup in the last match.
The other move that might significantly improve Afghanistan’s prospects is the addition of opening batsman Hazratullah Zazai.
Zazai, known for his propensity to score quick runs in the powerplay, might help them fix their run-rate difficulties in the early innings.
The 25-year-old began with Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the last UAE series, scoring a critical 36 in the second and third T20Is.
Furthermore, the change would enable Afghanistan to keep a right-left combination at the top, countering India’s powerplay strategy of utilizing spinners.
In a high-scoring venue like Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Afghans must take advantage of the fielding limits.
If the switch is made, skipper Ibrahim Zadran will be able to bat at number three, as he did in the UAE series.
No.2 – Avoid spin at the beginning of Shivam Dube’s innings
In a star-studded Indian roster, few expected Shivam Dube to be the front-runner for Player of the Series honors.
However, the big left-hander has played an important role in India’s victorious run chases.
Dube struck an undefeated 60 off 40 deliveries in the series opener in Mohali, followed by an even better 63* off 32 in the Indore match.
Afghanistan must remove the batting all-rounder early to have a chance in the last T20I.
While Dube has been in excellent form, Afghanistan has increased his chances of success with strategic errors.
It’s no surprise that the Mumbai-born cricketer loves to face spinners, especially early in his career.
Despite this, Afghanistan has bowled spin after spin at Dube, allowing him to get his eye in before the launch.
In the first game, the southpaw faced solely spin for the first 12 balls of his innings, and the trend continued in the second T20I when he fed on 15 of his first 16 deliveries from the tweakers.
Although Dube has made significant progress in his ability to manage pace and bouncers from pacers, Afghanistan should challenge the batsman with that technique as soon as he reaches the crease.
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No.3 – Afghanistan Team must minimize the Axar Patel danger with more left-handed players
Over the last three months, Axar Patel has been India’s most effective T20I bowler, with his performances being the difference between Afghanistan establishing frightening totals and finishing with subpar numbers.
The left-arm spinner had figures of 2/23 and 2/17 in the two games, slowing Afghanistan’s scoring pace.
However, like Dube, Afghanistan has failed tactically against Axar by ensuring he bowls almost exclusively to right-handers.
In the first T20I, the Gujarat-born all-rounder exclusively bowled to right-handed batsmen, making it considerably simpler for left-arm orthodox spinners.
In the second game, Axar bowled 21 of his 24 legal deliveries to right-handers without making any adjustments from the first.
Afghanistan’s reliance on the lone left-hander Najibullah Zadran in their top seven, as well as their unwillingness to elevate him up the order to battle Axar, contributed to the fiasco.
However, the visitors’ two brilliant lefties, Hazratullah Zazai and Ikram Alikhil, are watching the play from the dressing room.
The duo’s presence allows for a top seven that alternates between right and left-handed hitters, which might help to unsettle Indian spinners, particularly Axar Patel.
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