IND vs AFG, World Cup: Delhi likely to witness high-scoring game albeit on fresh pitch

ODI World Cup 2023: India are set to take on Afghanistan following their convincing victory over Australia in the ongoing World Cup 2023. The match, which was fraught with tension, showcased the resilience of India batters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who adopted a Test-batting approach to rescue India from the brink of disaster following an early top-order collapse. However, it was the Indian bowlers, led by the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja, who shone the brightest, restricting Australia to a mere 199 runs.

As the anticipation builds for the India vs. Afghanistan clash, all eyes are fixed on the pitch conditions in Delhi. The Chennai pitch had drawn criticism for heavily favouring spinners and causing troubles for batters. However, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has recently re-laid its pitches, using black soil to create surfaces expected to offer more bounce and favourable conditions for fast bowlers. A recent match between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Delhi witnessed a staggering total of 754 runs, emphasising the potential for high-scoring encounters.

3 things you need to know:

• Newly laid pitches in Delhi have black soil as main component
• The Delhi pitch offered more bounce during SA vs SL match 
• India and Afghanistan will clash on October 11 at Arun Jaitley Stadium

IND vs AFG: Delhi Pitch Report

A pre-match examination of the Delhi pitch unveiled a generous amount of grass, indicating that it may tilt in favour of the fast bowlers. Shardul Thakur, India's pacey bowling all-rounder, was seen honing his skills in the nets during optional training, poised to exploit the pitch conditions to his advantage.

The first World Cup match held in Delhi witnessed a run bonanza, with a combined total of 754 runs scored by South Africa and Sri Lanka, hinting at another high-scoring spectacle between India and Afghanistan. The toss will likely play a crucial role, with the team winning it opting to set a formidable total. This sets the stage for an electrifying showdown, pitting India's formidable batting lineup against Afghanistan's fast and fiery bowlers. Cricket enthusiasts around the world are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling contest in the capital city.

IND vs AFG: Squads for both sides

Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.