The 2023 World Cup got off to an electrifying start last Thursday with the thrilling clash between England and New Zealand. As cricket enthusiasts around the globe eagerly await the next showdown, the ninth match of the tournament is set to unfold this Wednesday, October 10, featuring a captivating battle between India and Afghanistan. The contest is scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
India enters this critical match buoyed by a historic victory over five-time champions Australia in their tournament opener. Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their previous match against fellow Asian rivals Bangladesh, losing by six wickets.
In their first match, India showcased an all-around performance with Ravindra Jadeja leading the bowling attack, claiming three crucial wickets. Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah also contributed with two wickets each. Australia was bowled out for 199, and India comfortably chased down the target in 41.2 overs with six wickets in hand. The partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, worth 165 runs, proved to be a match-defining moment. Kohli scored 85 off 116 balls, while Rahul remained unbeaten with a remarkable 97* off 115 balls.
Afghanistan, however, had a tough outing in their previous match against Bangladesh, where only Rahmanullah Gurbaz managed to cross the 30-run mark. Afghanistan was bowled out for 158, with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Azmatullah Omarzai each picking up one wicket.
Before the highly anticipated Wednesday clash, let’s take a closer look at the head-to-head record of these two teams in One Day International (ODI) matches. India and Afghanistan have met three times in the ODI format, with India securing victory in two matches, while Afghanistan claimed a win in one.
While India and Afghanistan have a limited history in the Cricket World Cup and other formats, their only encounter in the World Cup occurred in 2019. India narrowly defeated Afghanistan by 11 runs in a fiercely contested match, with India posting a total of 224/8 in 50 overs.
The upcoming match promises to be an exciting contest between two formidable teams, each with the potential to lift the trophy in this edition of the World Cup. Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead Afghanistan, while Rohit Sharma will captain the Indian team.
Adding valuable insights about the venue, former Zimbabwean cricketer Christopher Mpofu, in an exclusive interview on the DAFA NEWS cricket show on NewsX, highlighted that in the 27 games played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, pacers have taken 226 wickets at an average of 33.00, slightly edging out the spinners who have claimed 123 wickets at an average of 31.96. Interestingly, 13 games have been won by teams batting first, while 13 matches have been clinched by chasing teams, with one game ending in a no result. The average first-batting score at the venue stands at 237.
