Cricket

Australia's Mitchell Marsh Anticipates Challenging Match Against Afghanistan in T20 World Cup Super 8sAustralia's captain, Mitchell Marsh, expressed his team's readiness for their upcoming Super 8s match against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. Marsh acknowledged Afghanistan's capabilities and emphasized the importance of trusting their game plan."We'll try and have a read on conditions and have a good night," Marsh said. "We know Afghanistan are a good side. We just need to trust our process and enjoy it."The match marks the second Super 8s game for both teams, with Australia aiming to extend their undefeated streak in the tournament. Afghanistan, on the other hand, seeks redemption after their loss to India in their opening match.Marsh highlighted the strategic decision to include Ashton Agar in the lineup, replacing Mitchell Starc, based on the anticipated conditions."Ashton Agar comes in for Mitchell Starc, purely conditions based," Marsh explained.The match will be played at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent, and is expected to be a competitive encounter. Australia's dominance in the tournament thus far will be put to the test against a determined Afghanistan side eager to prove their worth.

Afghanistan vs Australia: Super 8 Clash in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to witness a thrilling encounter between Afghanistan and Australia in the Super 8 stage. The match will take place at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent on June 23, 2024, at 06:00 AM IST.Australia enters the match with momentum after a convincing 28-run victory over Bangladesh. Pat Cummins emerged as the standout performer, amassing 91 fantasy points. Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their previous game, losing to India by 47 runs. Rashid Khan was the top fantasy performer for Afghanistan, scoring 111 points.Historically, Australia has dominated Afghanistan in T20Is, winning the only match played between the two teams. The Aussies' batters have generally outperformed Afghanistan, while the Afghan bowlers have been their main contributors.Key Players to Watch:* Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG): The left-arm medium-fast bowler has been in excellent form, taking 15 wickets in his last five matches.* Marcus Stoinis (AUS): The batting all-rounder has scored 156 runs and taken seven wickets for Australia.* Rashid Khan (AFG): The Afghanistan skipper has led his team's bowling unit and has taken nine wickets in his last five matches.* Adam Zampa (AUS): The star leg spinner has been one of the highest wicket-takers in the tournament, with 11 wickets.* Travis Head (AUS): The explosive top-order batter has amassed 179 runs in the recent five matches.* Ibrahim Zadran (AFG): The right-handed top-order batter has scored 160 runs in the recent five matches.Prediction:Australia is the favorite to win this match based on their recent form and historical dominance over Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan has the potential to upset the Aussies with their talented bowling attack. The match promises to be a close and exciting contest.

After a match-winning knock of 53 off 28 against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup Super 8 match, India batter Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Afghan spinner Rashid Khan, calling him the world's best bowler. During his 53-run innings, Suryakumar hit 16 runs off the six deliveries he faced from Rashid, helping India reach a winning total of 181/8 at the Kensington Oval on Thursday night.Speaking after the match, the world no.1 T20I batter emphasized the importance of asserting dominance against a player he regards as the world's best bowler. "I have told this before as well and I'll say that again on air when he bowls, it's very difficult to pick him so I know what shots I want to play when I'm inside. Best bowler in the world. You can't let him dominate. You have to be a step ahead. But I am happy to be on a better side today," said Suryakumar.Batting first, India were 79/3 after 10 overs, having lost Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli. But Suryakumar's partnership with Hardik Pandya got them back on track, leading to a solid first-innings score of 181/8. In their response, Afghanistan were bowled out for 134, thanks to an exceptional spell from Jasprit Bumrah, who finished with figures of 3-7, as India sealed a 47-run win.For his match-defining knock, Suryakumar was adjudged Player of the Match. Speaking about his performance, the batter said, "I think there's a lot of hard work and practice gone behind this. And as I say again and again, there's a lot of process and routines involved and when I go inside, when I play the game, I know I'm pretty clear in my mind what I want to do. Really happy with the way things went. And yeah, the first batter to get better of the match, hopefully the first of many.""I still remember when Hardik came into bat, I told him the same thing. Let's keep back with the same intent. Let's not leave too much to the end because in the end, it was definitely going to be a difficult thing to do with the ball getting old, reversing and all. So, I said let's keep pressing the pedal and see where we get in the end of 16 overs. But yeah, very happy with the way we got 180 on the board," he added.When asked about the adjustments needed after playing on challenging pitches in the USA and then moving to the Caribbean, the 33-year-old responded, "I think you just need to know what the game plan is. You practice accordingly when you get a few practice sessions and just know your game and when you go inside give the team fast what the team requires on that given day. Just, just be that way when you look at how the."

Afghanistan vs Australia: Maxwell's Return and the Battle of the SpinnersThe highly anticipated clash between Afghanistan and Australia in Kingstown promises to be a captivating encounter, with all eyes on Glenn Maxwell's return to form. In their previous encounter, Maxwell's heroics propelled Australia to victory, and he will be eager to make a similar impact against Afghanistan's formidable spin attack.Afghanistan's middle order has struggled in this tournament, striking at a rate of less than 100, while Australia's middle order has been in impressive form, striking at 168.09. Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar could pose a significant threat to Afghanistan's batters on the spin-friendly Kingstown pitch.Naveen-ul-Haq will be Afghanistan's key weapon against Australia's power-hitters, while Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, and Maxwell will look to exploit Afghanistan's weaknesses. David has a strong head-to-head record against both Naveen and Rashid Khan.Australia may consider bringing back Agar to bolster their spin attack, while Afghanistan is likely to retain Hazratullah Zazai despite his recent struggles.The pitch in Kingstown has favored spinners, with 22 wickets taken at an economy rate of 5.64 in six innings. Rashid Khan and Zampa, two of the world's best T20 wristspinners, will be the key players to watch.

The Indian cricket team's bowling attack in the Super 8 fixture against Afghanistan on Thursday was a unique one. It is not often that you see three left-arm spinners in the eleven. Kuldeep Yadav offers variety as a wrist spinner, while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja come on with a stifling line and length. Axar, in particular, is adept at changing it up according to the match situation. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is waiting in the wings.The trio formed an effective combination on a slow, dry Kensington Oval pitch. Kuldeep, playing his first match of the tournament, took two wickets. Axar (1/15 in 3 overs) and Jadeja gave nothing away and applied the choke on the Afghan chase.Axar believes that active communication makes for a good partnership. "Having three left-arm spinners is an advantage on the wickets here. Our combination is very good. We communicate well. For example, whoever comes on to bowl first will communicate to the others on what is working and what is not. This is important when you bowl as a unit," Axar said at the press conference after India eased past Afghanistan by 47 runs.Being versatile to satisfy the needs of the team is crucial, Axar added. "I can bowl in the PowerPlay, middle or towards the end. I can be called by the captain in any situation. If I feel that I need to attack, then I plan accordingly. In the Pakistan match, when I came to bowl the 16th over, I felt that if I give less runs it will be very good for the team," said Axar.Axar described pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as a "world class bowler", and that the quality of the Indian attack can "get us out of a tough situation".

Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, has lauded Rishabh Pant's performance in India's emphatic victory over Afghanistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup. While acknowledging Pant's quickfire 20 runs off 11 balls, Gavaskar's praise extended beyond the immediate statistics, focusing on the wicketkeeper-batsman's improved fitness and growing maturity.Gavaskar's comments came after India secured a comfortable 47-run win, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav's blistering half-century and Jasprit Bumrah's three-wicket haul were instrumental in the victory, but it was Pant's overall contribution that caught Gavaskar's eye.Reflecting on Pant's journey back from a severe car accident, Gavaskar expressed relief and delight at the player's remarkable recovery. "It's a miracle, you know? I mean, we all were so concerned when we heard about the accident. We heard about the severity of the injuries and we were all praying for him just to be ok. But not only has he been ok, he's come back so strongly. He's lost a little bit of weight, which was probably needed and it looked at one stage that he was just maybe getting a little overweight. He's lost a bit of weight and he's looking so good, so fit," Gavaskar told Star Sports after the match.Gavaskar emphasized the significance of Pant's decision to prioritize wicketkeeping over relying on Rohit Sharma, despite the latter's renowned fielding prowess. "Look at his mobility. Those two catches that he took, he was. He ran about 20-30 yards. I know the ball was up in the air, but there was Rohit Sharma there, one of the safest pairs of hands in the game. But wicketkeeper's gloves are always much safer than ordinary hands, you know, plain hands. So he was there and again recognising the situation."Gavaskar drew parallels between Pant's development and Hardik Pandya's evolution as a cricketer, emphasizing the importance of maturity and situational awareness. "This is the maturity that is so important. We've seen it with Hardik Pandya, we are seeing it in Rishabh Pant's cricket. The maturity of understanding conditions. Yes, batting wise, he will still continue to play the game. That's exactly what you want because he's a naturally attacking player and he can upset the bowler totally. That's what he did. He didn't score too many runs. He got 20 in about 10 deliveries at a SR of 200 but that is exactly what you want at that stage," remarked the Indian batting icon.Unbeaten so far in the tournament, India next take on Bangladesh in the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on Saturday.

Wicket-Keeper Pant's Enthusiasm and Captain Rohit's Laidback Style Create Humorous Moment in India-Afghanistan MatchWicket-keepers are renowned for their energetic presence on the field, often tasked with boosting team morale during challenging moments. Rishabh Pant, India's wicket-keeper, is particularly known for his exuberant nature behind the stumps, frequently requesting reviews and enthusiastically pursuing catches.In contrast, captain Rohit Sharma exudes a more relaxed demeanor, approaching the game with a laidback attitude that translates into his elegant batting style. This contrast was evident during the India-Afghanistan Super 8 T20 World Cup match, which India won by 47 runs.During the 11th over of Afghanistan's run chase, Kuldeep Yadav bowled a delivery that Gulbadin Naib mishit high into the air over the covers. Pant immediately sprinted from behind the stumps, exclaiming "mine, mine." Rohit, who could have also attempted the catch, remained stationary at his position, barely moving an inch.To Pant's credit, he made the catch appear effortless, despite having to cover a significant distance while keeping his eyes fixed on the ball. Rohit, in his characteristic style, chose not to interfere with Pant's pursuit of the catch, seemingly saying, "All yours."As Pant completed the catch, he playfully tossed the ball to his skipper, who still refrained from catching it. The International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a video of the amusing moment on their Instagram handle.The Indian cricket team will now travel to Antigua to face Bangladesh on Saturday.

Ravindra Jadeja's exceptional fielding prowess has been a crucial factor in India's success in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite not making significant contributions with the bat or ball, Jadeja's fielding brilliance has saved numerous runs and taken stunning catches.In India's 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their Super Eights opener, Jadeja showcased his fielding skills with two spectacular catches in the deep. He grabbed Mohammad Nabi's catch at deep mid-wicket off Kuldeep Yadav in the 17th over and then took the catch of Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan at deep third man in the next over, giving Arshdeep Singh his first wicket.Jadeja's fielding efforts were recognized by the Indian cricket board (BCCI), which shared a video on its official Twitter handle showing fielding coach T Dilip presenting the 'fielder of the match medal' to Jadeja in the Indian dressing room after the match.Dilip praised the team for adapting to the conditions in Barbados and showing tremendous attention to details. He highlighted the readiness and lightning skills of Arshdeep Singh, the sharp instincts of Jadeja, and the consistency and effort of Axar Patel.Dilip also lauded Rishabh Pant for his determination and focus. He then announced that India head coach Rahul Dravid would present the medal, which was met with cheers from the cricketers. Dravid presented the medal to Jadeja, who lifted him up in his arms.Jadeja expressed his gratitude for the medal, saying, "This medal is very important, I am very happy to get this medal today and I am very very inspired from Mohammad Siraj. Thank you Siraj, cheers!"The Indian cricket team now heads to Antigua to face Bangladesh on Saturday.

India's Bowling Prowess Shines in T20 World Cup VictoryIndia's comprehensive 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their Super 8 opener of the T20 World Cup showcased the depth and quality of their bowling attack. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel hailed Jasprit Bumrah as a "world-class bowler" and emphasized the confidence within the team in their bowlers' ability to handle pressure situations.Patel highlighted Bumrah's exceptional skills and the overall strength of the Indian bowling lineup. "With the quality of bowlers we have on our side, we can get out of a tough situation," he said.Patel also praised the hands-off approach of bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, who trusts Bumrah's judgment and encourages him to execute his game plan without interference. "He has an idea of what to do and what not to do," Patel said of Bumrah. "The bowling coach doesn't interfere much. He says that whatever your mindset is, it is clear, so just execute your plans."India's bowling unit has been a crucial part of their success in the tournament so far. They have displayed tactical adaptability and the ability to adapt to different conditions.In their next Super 8 match, India will face Bangladesh on Saturday. The match will be a test of their bowling strength against a team that has shown resilience and determination in the tournament.