Former Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar has advised Shubman Gill and the Indian team to not underestimate Afghanistan in the upcoming three-match ODI series. Nayar highlighted that Afghanistan’s players, with experience in global franchise cricket, could present a tough challenge for India.
The ODI series between India and Afghanistan commences on June 13 in Dharamshala, followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai. Nayar emphasized that Afghanistan’s aggressive style of cricket, coupled with their bowlers’ ability to trouble Indian batsmen, makes them formidable opponents. Despite this, Nayar acknowledged a significant quality gap between the two teams.
Nayar expressed that Afghanistan would aim to win at least two games in the series, which could be a remarkable achievement for them and a potential upset for India. He urged Shubman Gill and his team to approach the matches with seriousness and not take Afghanistan lightly.
In terms of team selection, Nayar suggested Ishan Kishan for the number three slot in the absence of Virat Kohli. He reasoned that Kishan’s experience and recent performances make him a more suitable choice over Yashasvi Jaiswal. Nayar also discussed potential bowling combinations for India, emphasizing the importance of managing players’ workloads effectively.
Former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla emphasized the significance of providing exposure to emerging players with an eye on the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup. Chawla highlighted Rohit Sharma’s role in the series and the need for him to deliver in the absence of Virat Kohli. He also mentioned Nitish Kumar Reddy’s improvements in the IPL and the importance of nurturing young talent for future tournaments.
