Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan, marking the beginning of their Super 8 stage journey in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday (June 20).

Reason behind Mohammad Siraj’s absence

Rohit announced one change for the match, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav coming in for fast bowler Mohammed Siraj. Rohit believed that the pitch is expected to get slower in the second innings, which could be the reason behind Siraj’s exclusion from the side and the inclusion of the champion spinner.

“The track looks alright, don’t know how it’ll play. Feel it’ll get slower. Better than New York (laughs), we won there which was more important. Need to adapt now. We’ve been here 3-4 days and have practiced. Kuldeep Yadav is playing in place of Mohammed Siraj,” Rohit said at the time of the toss.

India’s impressive group stage performance

India enters this Super 8 clash riding high on an unbeaten run in the group stage. They topped Group A with seven points from four matches, which included three emphatic wins and one no-result due to rain. This dominant performance has not only boosted the team’s confidence but also set high expectations as they advance in the tournament. India’s blend of experienced campaigners and dynamic young talent has proven to be a formidable combination thus far.

Afghanistan’s mixed fortunes in group stage

Afghanistan, on the other hand, had a roller-coaster ride in the group stage. They started strong, maintaining an unbeaten record until their final group match. However, they faced a heavy setback against the co-hosts West Indies, losing by more than 100 runs. This defeat exposed some vulnerabilities, but Afghanistan remains a resilient side with the potential to challenge any team on their day.