Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Stats: Cricket is a game that unites billions, but sometimes it seems to create a clash among the teams for the richness of cricketing heritage. It is for a reason that the encounters between Afghanistan’s national cricket team and India’s national cricket team draw much significance due to vast contrasts that exist in both nations’ history when it comes to cricket. India is a powerhouse of cricket in the world, having dominated the game since historical times, while Afghanistan, though new into the international arena, has so far evinced tremendous growth and potential.
This article provides an in-depth look into the statistical records, key performances, and overall importance of the matches played between the two teams.
Overview of Both Teams
India National Cricket Team: The Indian cricket team is one of the most successful to have ever played the game. Having won the ICC World Cup twice, once in 1983 and then in 2011, India has been one of those top-ladder teams across all formats of the game. This is a legacy under the Board of Control for Cricket in India that has seen legends like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli come through the ranks.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team: Afghanistan is one of those countries which faced adversities and grew manifold in the cricketing world. Since the country officially entered into international cricket, ACB has been fostering talents since 2009. Amidst all the political and social challenges, cricket seemed to emerge as a passport to unity and hope for Afghans. The players, like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, have been the stars of the world arena, and Afghanistan now are believed strong in at least limited-over cricket.
International Head to Head Records
Afghanistan and India have faced off against each other across various formats; however, their clashes have been relatively limited when compared with other cricket rivalries. Considering the number of matches fewer, their games nevertheless show hard-fought competition where Afghanistan has toiled hard to give a tough competition to a cricketing behemoth.
One Day Internationals
- Matches Played: 3
- India Wins: 2
- Afghanistan Wins: 0
- Tied/No Result: 1
India has always been a step ahead in the ODIs. However, the most thrilling game between the two sides came during the 2019 ICC World Cup in which Afghanistan almost pulled magic. India won by only 11 runs courtesy of stellar bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli’s century.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
- Matches Played: 3
- India Wins: 3
- Afghanistan Wins: 0
When it comes to this T20 format, the performance of India has been leading, and it has come out as a winner in all the encounters that have taken place. The improvement in Afghanistan T20 cricket promises more thrilling matches between the two teams in future with world class spinners such as Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Test Matches
- Matches Played: 1
- India Wins: 1
- Afghanistan Wins: 0
Afghanistan had their first taste of Test cricket in the year 2018 against India, an Afghan cricketing history. Though the Indian team was filled with overwhelming experience, yet entry into Test cricket was felt to be big achievement for Afghanistan.
Key Players and Performances
India
- Virat Kohli: Aggressive yet anchoring at times, Kohli has been significantly handy in India’s wins against Afghanistan. His hundred in the 2019 World Cup clash stays as one of the tops in his arsenal.
- Rohit Sharma: The Indian limited-overs vice-captain is known to score big hundreds. In this encounter, Rohit has regularly troubled Afghan bowlers with his playing of attacking strokes.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Probably one of the finest fast bowlers in this generation, Bumrah’s skills during the death overs changed India’s fortune during that close win against Afghanistan at the 2019 World Cup.
Afghanistan
- Rashid Khan: The mainstay for Afghanistan, Rashid is amongst the best leg-spinners in the world. His performances across different T20 leagues and in international cricket have collected quite a few accolades. India has been really watchful playing him, but he is still Afghanistan’s ace card against stronger teams.
- Mohammad Nabi: The off-spinning all-rounder has been one of the mainstays of Afghanistan’s cricketing rise. His experience and ability to contribute with both bat and ball make him indispensable for Afghanistan.
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Yet another starlet from Afghanistan, Mujeeb is a mystery spin bowler and has harassed several top batsmen around the world. His inclusion in Afghanistan’s bowling line-up guarantees an intimidating spin attack in partnership with Rashid Khan.
Important Matches
- 2019 ICC World Cup Match: One of the most thrilling matches between them came in the 2019 ICC World Cup. Afghanistan came agonizingly close to pulling off an upset on India in a low-scoring thriller. India, after posting 224/8 in their 50 overs had to depend upon their bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, to seal a narrow win by 11 runs. This was a game that showed how Afghanistan can test a top team like India on the greatest stage of them all, cricketing-wise.
- Test Cricket: The one-off Test in 2018 was, of course, a red-letter day for Afghanistans cricket. As expected, it was one-sided, with India showing just how comfortable they were with the format and emerging victorious by an innings and 262 runs. But that marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Afghanistans as they joined the elite world of Test cricket.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Indias Strengths
Batting Depth: It’s a very deep-quality batting lineup, as India boasts the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul to see them through. Even their lower middle order can make big contributions.
Varied Bowling Attack: It is one of the world-class bowling attacks India has in the shape of quality pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and spinners like Ravindra Jadeja.
Big-Match Experience: With numerous ICC tournaments under their playing and winning experience, India knows how to pull through when things get really on fire.
India’s Weaknesses
Over-dependency on Top Order: Often, India’s middle order is blamed for not being effective enough as the side relies far too much on its top three batsmen.
Vulnerability to Spin: Of late, India have shown a bit of vulnerability against quality off-spin bowling, which is a department the Afghans can look to exploit through Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
AFGHANISTAN’S STRENGTHS
- The Afghanistan spin attack is the only serious strength that it possesses. Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi can form a trio capable of seriously troubling batsmen of any standard.
- Afghanistan is also a very fearless side that more often than not take to an all-out approach, disregarding reputations of opposition players. Its unpredictability can quite often catch teams off-guard.
Afghanistan’s Weaknesses
- Fragile Batting: Afghan batting does has the tendency to become inconsistent and its top order often falls in front of quality pace bowling as it had happened in the case of India.
- Lack of Test Experience: While Afghanistan has proved themselves within the limited-overs formats, it is only natural that they lack experience when it comes to Test cricket, more so against established Test-playing nations like India.
Future Matches
These two sides’ encounters can only get closer with Afghanistan continuing to rise as a cricketing nation. The players are getting exposure through different T20 leagues around the world, and with the yearning of their enthusiastic fanbase, they might be able to pull off more headaches for India in future games.
Meanwhile, India will be busy consolidating their position in world cricket by introducing new faces. With a talent pool that has star batsmen such as Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, the future of India is secure too and for quite some time, Afghanistan will see them as a force to reckon with.
Conclusion
While India has dominated most of the matches that have been played between the two countries, the development of Afghan cricket means this could well be a rivalry that gets much more competitive. The actual strength of Afghanistan is the spin bowling combined with a fearless approach, and this does make them an uncomfortable side to play for any team. With their depth and experience, India would be the favorite in most matches, but how Afghanistan pushed them to the limit in that 2019 World Cup match probably explains that better.
In this journey of constant development of both teams, many more exciting contests between the two sides-India and Afghanistan-will unfold in times to come.