T20 World Cup: It's time India experiment against Afghanistan

19 September, 2012

Given the fact that they are one of the favourites, the match against Afghanistan is the best opportunity for Team India to try some experiments both in the batting and bowling departments.

INDIAN CRICKET team is set for their first match in the T20 World Cup against the minnows Afghanistan at Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka. India won the first edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 and would be keen on coming up with a repeat performance. The Indian team is one of the favourites to lift the 2012 T20 World Cup as well, but for that to happen they need to start on the right note against Afghanistan.

The Indian team should walk away with the match, especially with the number of quality batsmen at their disposal. On paper, they have the best batting line up with the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Kohli, Dhoni just to name a few. They are capable of tearing apart any attack and the Afghani bowlers would have a tough time against these flamboyant Indian batsmen.

But, the Indian team also has some weak links and topping that all is their weak bowling line up. Against the Afghanis, they might not take a huge stick, but when they play against major opponents, they would be majorly tested. Zaheer Khan is the only respected bowler from the Indian squad. In fact, in the shorter format of T20, the Indian team does not have any suitable bowler who instills fear among opponents. If the Indian team is to try out any experiments in the bowling line up, they can afford to do that against Afghanistan.

But, one should not take these minnows lightly. Afghanistan has been one of the best associate nations and can pose challenges to the Indian team, if not taken seriously. The Indian team would never forget the manner in which they exited the 2007 ICC 50 over world cup from the first round itself, where they lost their first match against Bangladesh and later on against Sri Lanka. They would not want a repeat performance.