Aakash Chopra expects Afghanistan's batting 'firepower' to face Indian pressure test

India and Afghanistan are all set to face each other in the first game of the three-match T20I series at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, January 11.

Before the game, renowned cricket expert Aakash Chopra shared his insights in a recent video, offering his take on the potential dynamics of the game. Chopra began by shedding light on Afghanistan's formidable squad, acknowledging the absence of star spinner Rashid Khan due to ongoing recovery from back surgery. Despite this setback, Chopra emphasised the team's strength, especially in the batting department.

"Afghanistan have come with a very big squad. From Rahmanullah Gurbaz to Gulbadin Naib, they have plenty of firepower. The pressure will be on this team's batting because they bowl well in any case," Chopra said in his YouTube video.

The former India opener highlighted the key role of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in Afghanistan's batting lineup, stating,

"In batting, if Rahmanullah Gurbaz's bat talks, then Rahmanullah will become subhanallah, mashallah. He will need support from the middle-order batters. If the Afghan batters contribute runs, it's a contest to watch out for."

Chopra, expressing anticipation for Najibullah Zadran's powerful batting, predicted a potentially high-scoring game. He stated, 

"I will have my eyes on Najibullah Zadran again because he hits mighty sixes. They have decent might in batting. Whoever wins the toss, will opt to bowl first as chasing will be easy. It could be a 180 to 200-run match."

However, Chopra cautioned against overly aggressive strategies for the team batting first, advising against targeting a 200+ score right from the outset. He reasoned that such an approach might backfire, resulting in a lower total.

Naveen-ul-Haq is a very decent bowler: Chopra

Shifting his focus to Afghanistan's bowling prowess, Chopra acknowledged the absence of Rashid Khan but emphasised the team's overall strength. He mentioned,

"Naveen-ul-Haq is a very decent bowler. This team's bowling is actually not bad. This team's bowling is always good in T20Is. Rashid Khan isn't there. So Noor Ahmad might play. Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are already there. You won't gain much by playing too many spinners as dew might come."

As India and Afghanistan gear up for a series where they have never faced each other in a bilateral context, cricket enthusiasts are in for an exciting match.