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3 players who can be given a chance in India vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I
India have won the series against Afghanistan with a game to go. In the first T20I, India beat Afghanistan by 6 wickets, chasing a target of 159 runs at Mohali. In the 2nd T20I at Indore, India overcame Afghanistan by 6 wickets chasing a target of 173 runs. In both matches, the young players stepped up for India and performed well with the bat and with the ball. It showed their abilities to perform while chasing the target.
The first match happened at Mohali, where the wicket was slow and not easy to bat on. The Indian batters batted well and took the side home. In the 2nd T20I, the wicket was flat and there was not much assistance for the bowlers. Yet, they put up a very good performance and helped the side to restrict Afghanistan to a low total of 172 runs, which was not going to be enough. India chased down the target in just 15.4 overs.
With the third T20I not having any say on the eventual result of the series, it would be a good chance for India to give a chance to other players in the squad who have not had an opportunity in the series till now. Here are three such players who must come into the Playing XI of India in the match.
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3. Avesh Khan
India (Source: X)
Avesh Khan is a talented pacer. In the series against South Africa and Australia where India ended up winning, Khan was good with the ball. In the matches India won, Avesh bowled brilliantly and shined in the PP overs in both T20Is and ODIs. As a result, Avesh got his maiden Test call-up in the absence of Mohammed Shami.
Avesh did not get a chance for a long time in the first half of 2023. Things were about to change as he was picked in India’s squad for the Asian Games 2023. He got his chances against Australia where he was better than a lot in the flatter wickets. Considering his skills with the ball, Avesh might be given a chance at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
2. Kuldeep Yadav
India (Source: X)
Kuldeep Yadav is the best T20I spinner India has produced to date. The chinaman spinner has the incredible ability to turn the ball either way, which is a rarity in cricket by a left-arm spinner. Kuldeep has the knack of taking wickets in the middle overs which can choke the opposition in the most crucial phase of T20 cricket.
But Yadav is also deadly as he has been economical in recent times. Either the talented spinner takes wickets, or he manages to control the flow of runs. It makes the life of the batters difficult. Come the T20 WC 2024, Kuldeep will be a sure-shot player in the squad. But he has not played enough matches after the ODI WC 2023 and deserves a chance to play.
1. Sanju Samson
India (Source: X)
Sanju Samson is one of the players who is often overlooked by the management. Despite getting many chances in ODIs and solidifying them with good performances, Samson did not feature in the Asia Cup 2023 and the ODI WC 2023 squads of India, which was a bit surprising, given how he was performing in the format for a year or so.
In T20Is though, Samson has been ordinary till now. In 2023, Samson played in 8 T20Is and got a chance to bat in 6 of them. His scores in those matches were 5(6), 12(12), 7(7), 13(9), 1*(1), and 40(26). However, given his calibre and success in the other formats of the game, Samson can be given a chance, considering that the series is already won.