After an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the first match, Shreyas Iyer-led India face Ibrahim Zadran’s Afghanistan in the second T20I of their three-match bilateral series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, September 15.
Waiting in the wings is teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who dazzled during the Zimbabwe tour with Player of the Series honours. The bowling department faces a mandatory switch. Ishan Kishan cemented the No. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma will marshal the middle order. Fixture: India vs Afghanistan, 2nd T20I
With only 43 runs across his last five T20I innings, pressure is mounting on the veteran keeper-batter. Handing Sooryavanshi an aggressive opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma, who tore through Afghanistan’s attack with a 32-ball 82 – is tempting, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer are known to give players an extended run. Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who conceded just 16 runs in his 4-over spell in the series opener, has been sidelined by a side strain. 3 position with a measured 42 off 33 balls in the 121-run chase partnership with Abhishek.
