Tag: India vs Afghanistan

  • T20 World Cup 2024: Why Team India Players Wore Black Armbands In Super 8 Match Against Afghanistan? Read Here | Cricket News

    Team India wore black armbands in their clash T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 clash against Afghanistan on Thursday (June 20) in memory of former Indian fast bowler David Johnson, who passed away. Former India cricketer David Johnson passed away at the age of 52 on Wednesday. David Johnson was a former right-arm fast bowler who played in two Test matches in 1996 for Team India, where he managed to take three wickets. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah on Thursday expressed condolences on the demise of David Johnson.

    Team India will wear black armbands today in memory of former Indian fast bowler David Johnson, who passed away on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/dhFiwjnWSs

    BCCI (@BCCI) June 20, 2024

    “Deepest condolences to family and friends of our former Indian fast bowler David Johnson. His contributions to the game will always be remembered,” Jay Shah wrote on X.

    Former Indian cricketers Gauram Gambhir and Anil Kumble also took to X and posted a message, expressing sadness.

    “Saddened by the passing away of David Johnson. May god give strength to his family and loved ones,” Gambhir wrote on X.

    “Saddened to hear the passing of my cricketing colleague David Johnson. Heartfelt condolences to his family. Gone too soon “Benny”!,” Kumble wrote on X.

    Johnson snapped 125 wickets with a strike of 47.4 and an average of 28.63 in 39 games during his first-class cricket career. Despite being a lower-order batsman most of the time, he had scored a century in first-class cricket. The former bowler bagged 41 wickets in 33 List A matches. In 2015, he played his final competitive match in the Karnataka Premier League.

  • India vs Afghanistan FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: All You Need To Know; Livestreaming Details, Squads And More | football news

    Bolstered by the return of Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali, the Indian football team will renew its quest for a maiden entry into the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers when it faces a weakened Afghanistan on Thursday. With mid-field general Jeakson and centre-back Anwar back in the line-up after long injury layoffs, because of which India suffered in recent past, the Blue Tigers will fancy their chances against the lower-ranked opponents in the second-round preliminary. joint qualification match.

    With three points and one win from two matches, India currently occupy the second place in the Group A pecking order. Reigning Asian champions Qatar lead the standings with six points from two wins, while Kuwait are second with one win. Having lost both their games so far, Afghanistan are placed last.

    India's away win against Kuwait has put Igor Stimac's team in a strong position to progress further in the qualification cycle, something the 117-ranked side has never achieved. Victories in their upcoming outings (away and home) against the 158-ranked Afghanistan will help India acquire nine points and with Qatar expected to win their next two matches against Kuwait, the Blue Tigers have a real chance of jumping to second place in the standings. . (UEFA Champions League 2024 Draw: Real Madrid Face Manchester City; PSG Get FC Barcelona In Quarterfinals, Check Full List Here)

    India defeated Kuwait (1-0) in Kuwait City in their opening match of the qualifiers, before losing to Qatar (0-3) in Bhubaneswar. Since their first-ever meeting way back in 1949, India and Afghanistan have met regularly and the regional rivalry has not run its course even after the latter left SAFF in 2016. The face-off continued in the World Cup Qualifiers, Asian Cup Qualifiers and other continental and invitational tournaments, with India having their nose ahead on most occasions.

    Checkout the livestreaming details of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Game Between India and Afghanistan:

    Where is the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers game between Afghanistan and India taking place?

    The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match between Afghanistan and India will be played at the Damac Stadium, Abha, Saudi Arabia, on 22 March 2024 (Friday).

    When will the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Afghanistan and India be played?

    The FIFA World Cup Qualifier match will be played at 12:30 AM IST.

    Where will the FIFA World Cup Qualifier game between Afghanistan and India be telecasted?

    The FIFA World Cup Qualifier game will be telecasted on the DD Sports TV channel.

    Where will the FIFA World Cup Qualifier game between Afghanistan and India be live-streamed?

    The FIFA World Cup Qualifier game will be live-streamed on FanCode.

    Nevertheless, the Afghans have always been a difficult opposition to overcome, fighting until the final whistle. Nobody in this Indian squad can tell about Afghanistan better than the evergreen Sunil Chhetri, who is going strong at 39 and will be spearheading the visiting attack alongside Manvir Singh, who found the net in the team's win against Kuwait.

    Chhetri's record against the neighbors is quite impressive, scoring four goals in eight matches including a spectacular strike from a free kick in Kolkata in 2022.

    “They have progressively improved from when we met them for the first time,” said Chhetri.

    “The games were comfortable, but slowly and steadily, they progressed. And because of being in the same region, the rivalry also generated. Hence, the games became quite close. Both India and Afghanistan have improved in the last decade or so. Having Players who played outside have really helped them,” he added.

    While Sunil Chhetri remains his biggest player, Stimac should be no less thrilled with the return of Jeakson and Anwar. Jeakson has played a pivotal role for the Blue Tigers in the last two years, and featured in 17 consecutive matches from the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in June 2022 until the King's Cup in Thailand last September. His importance can be gauged by Stimac labeling him as one of the biggest misses in the squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar.

    What also makes India favorites in the game is the absence of some key Afghanistan players, who have been at loggerheads with the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) since accusing the sport body of indulging in corruption, including match-fixing.

    As the second round of qualifiers started, problems between the Afghanistan players and the AFF started growing. As many as 18 players boycotted the qualifiers against Kuwait and Qatar, leaving the side with few first-team players for the outing against Mongolia, whom the Lions of Khorasan defeated to progress to the second round. Still, players such as Zohib Islam Amiri, Omid Musawi and Balal Arezou will look to cause problems for India.

    The results against Kuwait and Qatar in June will be the real indicator of the Indian football team's prospects of making a maiden appearance in the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, head coach Igor Stimac said on Wednesday.

    “Each game is important from the aspect of self-confidence and rankings. But our priority and the final goal is to qualify for Round 3. There are various options to get there and obviously, nothing will be decided in the next two games. The matches in June against Kuwait and Qatar will tell us everything,” Stimac said.

    This will be the fourth time in five years that India will face Afghanistan in an official match. The two meetings in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2019 and 2021 ended 1-1 each, while India ran out 2-1 winners in the Asian Cup Qualifiers in 2022 in Kolkata, thanks to Sahal Abdul Samad's added-time strike.

    The Indians arrived here on March 15 and have had five full training sessions ahead of the match, acclimatising to the conditions in the mountain city, which is 2,470 meters above sea level.

    “We have been training normally as usual. We came here earlier so the boys can adapt to the different climate in Abha, and things look okay at the moment,” said the Croat.

    Stimac's counterpart and Afghanistan head coach Ashley Westwood knows Indian football all too well, having coached Bengaluru FC, ATK, and RoundGlass Punjab FC. He took charge of the Afghanistan national team last November, right before the World Cup Qualifiers kicked off.

    “Ashley knows most of our boys quite well and has been preparing his team for us since the Asian Cup,” said Stimac.

    “A few months back they had a camp in Abha to work on their game plan and played a friendly with a local team here. But we are sure they will be a much better side than what we have seen in their opening games,” he added.

    India skipper Sunil Chhetri, who won two I-League titles and a Federation Cup playing under Westwood at Bengaluru FC, shared his thoughts on the Afghanistan side.

    “They will play like a unit, they will be aggressive, they will know exactly what they have to do because that's how Ashley Westwood is. But I think it's more about us. We are here right in the corner of Saudi Arabia and we really have to bounce back after what happened in the Asian Cup. It's not going to be easy. We have to turn up,” said Chhetri.

    With three points and one win from two matches, India currently occupy the second place in the Group A pecking order. Reigning Asian champions Qatar lead the Group A standings with six points from two wins, while Kuwait are second with one win. Having lost both their games so far, Afghanistan are placed last.

    India's away win against Kuwait has put Igor Stimac's team in a strong position to progress further in the qualification cycle, something the 117-ranked side has never achieved.

    Victories in their upcoming outings (away and home) against the 158-ranked Afghanistan will help India acquire nine points and with Qatar expected to win their next two matches against Kuwait, the Blue Tigers have a real chance of jumping to second place in the standings. . India defeated Kuwait (1-0) in Kuwait City in their opening match of the qualifiers, before losing to Qatar (0-3) in Bhubaneswar.

  • IND vs AFG 2nd T20I: Will Virat Kohli Open With Rohit Sharma In T20Is? Saba Karim, Parthiv Patel Discuss Ideal Batting Position | cricket news

    As the T20 World Cup draws closer, the question of Virat Kohli’s batting position has become a topic of fervent discussion among cricket enthusiasts and former players. The upcoming tournament, set to take place in the West Indies and the USA, poses a unique challenge for the Indian team, especially considering the varied playing conditions they are likely to encounter.

    Also Read | Yuvraj Singh Questions R Ashwin’s Place In India’s ODI And T20I Team, Says ‘What Does He Bring With The Bat?’

    Former Indian cricketer and selector, Saba Karim, has expressed his preference for Virat Kohli to bat at No. 3 during the T20 World Cup, emphasizing the slow wickets that are anticipated during the Super 8s stage in the West Indies. Karim believes that in such conditions, a batsman of Kohli’s caliber can control the entire innings, ensuring stability and adaptability to the challenging surfaces. The strategic move is seen as a means to secure a solid foundation and navigate through the sluggish tracks that might demand a more measured approach.

    On the contrary, another former cricketer, Parthiv Patel, is an advocate for Virat Kohli opening the innings. Patel highlights Kohli’s stellar record as an opener in T20 cricket, underscoring his ability to set the tone for the innings and accumulate substantial runs. Patel argues that if Kohli is given the opportunity to face a significant number of deliveries, he has the potential to capitalize on the situation and post substantial scores, creating a strong foundation for the team.

    The debate gains further traction as India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, is believed to be backing Kohli to take on the role of an anchor at No. 3. Sharma’s support for Kohli in this position suggests a strategic move to stabilize the innings and counter the challenges posed by the slower pitches in the West Indies.

    The upcoming 2nd T20I against Afghanistan will offer a glimpse into India’s strategy, as Kohli is set to return to the playing XI after taking a break from the first match. It remains to be seen whether the team management opts for the No. 3 position for Kohli or continues to leverage his prowess as an opener.

    As India navigates the complexities of the T20 World Cup, the decision regarding Kohli’s batting position becomes a critical factor that could significantly impact the team’s performance. The clash of opinions between Karim and Patel mirrors the broader dilemma facing the Indian team management as they strive to strike the right balance between stability and aggression in their pursuit of T20 glory.

  • Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma To Open For Team India In T20 World Cup 2024? Coach Rahul Dravid Clears Air | cricket news

    Team India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed on Wednesday (January 10) that Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open in the run-up to the T20 World Cup, underlining the importance of a left-right pair at the pole position. Rohit has returned to India’s T20 scheme of things for the series against Afghanistan, beginning on Thursday, after a hiatus of 14 months.

    His previous appearance was in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal against England at Adelaide. Jaiswal has been opening in the shortest format since the away series against the West Indies in August last year. (Virat Kohli To Miss India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Due To Personal Reasons, Informs Head Coach Rahul Dravid)

    “As of now, we will be opening with Rohit and Jaiswal. When you have a squad that offers flexibility, we can take a call that is in the best interest of the team,” Dravid said on the eve of the match.

    “We are certainly happy with what Jaiswal has done for us as an opener. It also gives us the left-right combination at the top,” added Dravid. (Big Blow For Afghanistan Ahead Of T20I Series Against India, Rashid Khan Ruled Out)

    Sixes in T20i World Cups:

    Virat Kohli: 28, (24 vs big teams. Rohit Sharma: 15, (12 vs minnows.

    Real Hitman of world cricket.pic.twitter.com/RBwyEAURVt (@KohliMyHeart) January 9, 2024

    However, that will leave the question on how to find a place for Shubman Gill, who either opens or comes at No. 3 in T20Is. It is pertinent because Virat Kohli too has made a comeback to T20Is along with Rohit. Star batsman Kohli has been named in the squad for the series against Afghanistan, though he will be available only from the second T20I.

    So, how is the think-tank going to accommodate Kohli in the eleven? Is pairing Kohli with Rohit at the top a rational move to make? Dravid did not entirely rule out that possibility.

    “Nothing is closed (Kohli opening with Rohit). We have no doubt that the kind of ability and skill sets players like Rohit and Kohli possess, they will be able to find answers against different kind of bowling,” said Dravid.

    The former Indian captain said the selection process will be dominated by the ability of a player to negate all circumstances, and will not merely rely on the desire to field a left-right combination.

    “We still have left-handers in the line-up. But it is not only about left-handers but it is their ability to play through a period and to be able to tackle different kinds of spin that there is.”

    “Players like Rinku, Jaiswal and Tilak have come in as well, which adds a nice string to the bow. But in the end, we make selection on the basis of performance, not just on the left-hand or right-hand batsman, ” he insisted.

    The Bengaluru man was wholesome in his praise for Rinku Singh, and praised the Uttar Pradesh batsman for performing the high-pressure job of finisher with aplomb.

    “He has been performing well in the role of a finisher. This series (against Afghanistan) is another opportunity for him to develop himself as a cricketer further. Whatever opportunity he gets here or in the IPL, it will be good for his development. Whenever a player does well, he always remains in the thoughts of the selector,” he said. (With PTI inputs)