Rashid Khan & Rohit Sharma (Source: AFP Photos)
India and Afghanistan are all set to begin the three-match ODI series on Saturday, with Dharamsala ready to host the series opener.
While India are strong favourites to win these ODIs, there are certain individuals in Afghanistan who have the ability to turn the tide on their own. Here, in this article, we take a look at three of the best candidates for the job to stun the Shubman Gill-led Men in Blue in their own backyard.
1. Rashid Khan
A jack-of-all-trades for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan has been the best weapon from their country for a while now. With 210 ODI wickets in 117 matches at an average of 19.65, the 27-year-old stands as Afghanistan’s most successful bowler.
Rashid has played 34 ODIs in India. Of them, nine were from the last ODI World Cup. Here, he has picked up 34 wickets thus far, averaging 25.67 while maintaining an economy rate of 4.38.
When it comes to performing against India, Rashid has claimed five wickets in three ODIs with an economy rate of 4.88. This includes his 2/57 against India in the 2023 World Cup, in a contest where he took the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
Also Read: Major Records That Shubman Gill Can Break In India Vs Afghanistan ODIs
Notably, both Rohit and Kishan are expected to feature in India vs Afghanistan ODIs, and Rashid holds the key.
2. Hashmatullah Shahidi
Afghanistan's Test and ODI captain Hashmatullah Shahidi does not have the greatest numbers in ODIs. With an average of just under 33 after 93 matches in the format, his record is definitely not impressive overall.
However, his numbers against India are not as bad as one might expect. He has made 80 runs against the game’s heavyweights in three matches. In addition, he averages 39.72 in India, courtesy of making 437 ODI runs over 14 innings.
Shahidi has a playing style of holding the fort from one end, which is very important in building pressure on someone like India, who would expect people to go all guns blazing against them.
3. Ibrahim Zadran
Currently ranked as the third-ranked ODI batter after Daryl Mitchell and Virat Kohli, Ibrahim Zadran is a serious threat to India without a doubt.
Having already made 1869 runs in 39 ODIs, Zadran boasts of having an average of 51.9, which includes six centuries and nine half-centuries. He had an excellent 2025, averaging over 70 after tallying 429 runs in six matches.
Even though Zadran made only 22 runs in his only ODI knock against India, he could go big. Let’s not forget the knock he played against Australia during the 2023 World Cup.
Up until Glenn Maxwell played an once-in-a-lifetime knock, Zadran was Afghanistan’s hero after scoring a sensational 129, which had eight fours and three sixes.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir's Former Ally Leaves Out Ishan Kishan From India's Playing XI Vs Afghanistan
