Top 4 players to watch out for in IND vs AFG ahead of 2023 ODI World Cup clash

India having beaten Australia are currently high on confidence. They defeated the mighty Aussies by six wickets in a low-scoring total on Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Rohit Sharma's side was struggling at one time while chasing a target of 200. They were reduced to 2/3 as three batters Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer returned to the pavilion without scoring. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul played one of the most important knocks of their cricketing careers and sealed India home in their first match. 

Kohli scored 85 runs and Rahul on the other hand was unbeaten till the end with 97 runs. Both the batters played a knock under pressure and gave confidence to their team ahead of the second match of the tournament against Afghanistan at Delhi on Wednesday at the Arun Jaitely Stadium.

The Men in Blue will look to continue their winning momentum when they face Afghanistan in their second match of the ODI World Cup 2023. Afghanistan who faced a defeat against Bangladesh in the first match is yet to win a match in World Cup history. Ahead of the clash of both teams here are the players to watch out for.

Here are the top 4 players to watch out for in IND vs AFG clash: 

4. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

The young opener of Afghanistan has been one of the most explosive batters of this generation. He was the highest run-getter for his team in the last match against Bangladesh and looked in good touch. Gurbaz was back in the pavilion after scoring 47 runs. 

He provides his team with an explosive start early in the innings.

With experience playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the batter is a good player of spin as well. He can be a threat against India in Delhi as the boundaries are small here. If Gurbaz gives a good start early on in the innings then the Afghans can have the upper hand over the two-time World Champions.

3. Mohammed Siraj

Siraj has been in sensational form over the past few years. After making his test debut at Australia. He has never looked back. The Hyderabad-born pacer has gone better and better with time. He is currently the No.1 ODI bowler in Men's ranking. Siraj showed an absolute carnage display in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. 

The Sri Lankan batters had no answer to his line and length as the pacer picked 4 four wickets in a single over. Siraj picked his career best in that match with 6 for 21 runs. His bowling spell courtesy, led India to bowl out the Islanders in just 50 runs. He can be a threat as his knack for picking wickets with the new ball would turn out to be costly for the Afghan batters.

2. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has a lot of experience playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has created lots of trouble with his spin against the Indian batters in the world's biggest league. Delhi's pitch is usually slow and helps the spinners a lot, though it behaved quite differently in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka match. If he gets little assistance from the pitch then he can create problems for the Indian batters. The star spinner has been in great touch with the bat as well. He will be a crucial player for the Afghanistan side.

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been in sensational form in 2023. He played a crucial knock against the Aussies. He scored 85 runs and was a made solid partnership with KL Rahul of 165 runs for the fourth wicket. It is noteworthy that Afghanistan was the side when Virat ended his long and frustrating drought of an international century in the 2022 Asia Cup (T20 format) when he scored a brilliant hundred. He will return to his home ground, where he started his cricketing career. Kohli has scored he scored 2 century ODI in 2023.