IND vs AFG: Rohit Sharma reveals why Shardul Thakur replaced Ravi Ashwin in India playing XI

Ravi Ashwin picked up one wicket against Australia in India's tournament opener.

India are ready to take on Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi has won the toss and elected to bat first against India. Afghanistan have always been a challenger against India in big events and they will be looking to finally get their win against the men in Blue. Team India have decided to make a change in their playing XI to not allow Afghanistan any opportunity in the game. 

Chepauk’s wicket was dry and spongy thus team India went in with a spinner Ravi Ashwin along with chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja against Australia. Now, Delhi will be a bit dry, and considering the conditions and dew factor, Indian team management has announced a change in playing XI. Pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur will be coming into the playing XI to replace Ravi Ashwin against Afghanistan. 

Shardul in, Ashwin out

Indian captain Rohit Sharma also informed at the toss that this decision is purely based on the conditions prevailing at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. Rohit Sharma said at the toss, “We were looking to bat second. We saw the amount of dew last evening… Ashwin missed out and Shardul Thakur came in for India.” Shardul Thakur will be making his World Cup debut in this game. He has been a top wicket-taker for India since the last World Cup in England. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up a wicket against Australia in India’s World Cup opener.

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat first against India. Shahidi said, “We will bat first. It looks like a good batting surface. We have a good bowling attack to restrict them. It looks like a good surface, we want to bounce back with the bat.” 

Afghanistan lost their opening game against Bangladesh played at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. Last time when these two teams met against each other in the World Cup 2019, the game went on till the last over. Mohammed Shami defended 16 runs in the last over and picked a hat-trick. Afghanistan came closer to winning the game but they ended up losing it by only 11 runs played in Southampton.