When the cricketing rivals India and Afghanistan clash in the three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, it is sure to produce fascinating drama given the history between the two teams. This series, starting from September 13, will be held in India on security grounds, but Afghanistan will be the home team for this triangular encounter.
As far as rankings are concerned, the Men in Blue have a healthy scoreline against their opponents. From nine matches that have taken place so far in the T20I format, eight have been victories for Virat Kohli and Co., with one match remaining unfinished. The visitors are yet to register a win in the tournament format against their arch-rivals and will be looking to end the wait in the capital.
While the batsmen may garner all the headlines, it is always a riveting spectacle to watch the battle between the bowlers from both sides.
A look at the bowling chart from the head-to-head matches tells you who the key bowlers of India vs Afghanistan are
The Joint-Second: Masters of the Craft
There are four bowlers who have taken a joint-second spot in the list of leading wicket-takers in the India-Afghanistan T20I series. Each has a tally of five wickets with contrasting styles and stories.
Axar Patel, the spin bowling star of India, has been the consistent performer, recording five wickets in four games at an impressive economy of 5.26 and an average of 15.8. Including his two-wicket hauls in the Indore and Mohali games in the January series, he also had a five-wicket game in the first T20I of the 2024 World Cup in Bridgetown.
Fareed Ahmad, his counterpart from Afghanistan, has also equaled his strike rate, managing to take five wickets from 3 games. He took three wickets for 20 runs in the Bengaluru game in January 2024, dismissing some of India's star names. His average, however, reads 15.4, which shows the quality of the batting line-up he faced.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the veterans from both sides, also have classic spells in the first six games of the series.
Ashwin has five wickets to his name in three games at an excellent average of 5.08. He included a two-wicket haul in the third T20I of the 2021 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken five wickets in a single match only, but it was arguably the spell that defined the T20I series between the rivals. After scoring a brilliant century against Afghanistan in the first match of the 2022 Asia Cup Super 4 in Dubai, Virat Kohli came out to face the first over of the chase, where Bhuvneshwar sent down a special spell of bowling.
He removed Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz with unplayable deliveries in the opening over of the chase. He eventually ended up with figures of 5-4 in 4 overs. Afghanistan were bundled out for 21-6 in seven overs, before eventually posting a score of 111-8 in their 20 overs.
Arshdeep Singh
He tops the bowling list with 8 wickets at an average of 15 and an economy of 7.05. He took three wickets in the Indore game in January 2024 and another three wickets in Bridgetown in the Super 8 match of the 2024 World Cup. Arshdeep has been a consistent performer, picking up crucial wickets in the Asia Cup 2022 and the Asian Games final in 2023 in Hangzhou.
When the two teams take on each other in the Delhi games, the Men In Blue are looking to continue their winning streak, but Afghanistan might be looking to get their first win of the series.
Also read: Harshit Rana Ruled Out of Afghanistan T20Is, Asian Games as Yash Thakur Gets India Call-Up