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Rohit Sharma for India - (Source: AFP)
On Saturday, the much-awaited ODI series between India and Afghanistan will commence at the Dharamsala Stadium in Himachal Pradesh. It will be a three-match series. The Men in Blue have several injury concerns. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya will not be part of the series because of injuries.
The upcoming series is a great opportunity for several India players who have earned their maiden Indian call-up. On the other hand, a faction of players also have a point to prove against Afghanistan.
Now, the 2027 ODI World Cup is around the corner, and the preparations for the prestigious fifty-over event is underway. Hence, this article will shed light on India players who have a point to prove vs Afghanistan with a World Cup spot at stake.
India Players With A Point To Prove vs Afghanistan
1. Rohit Sharma
On Saturday, Rohit Sharma will become the oldest Indian cricketer to play ODIs. The hitman is 39-years-old and is constantly facing the pressure to prove himself to book his place in the 2027 ODI World Cup squad.
Rohit has worked on his fitness, but couldn’t escape injuries. The hitman has been getting injured a lot recently and missed several games in IPL 2026 due to a hamstring issue. Even when the squad for Afghanistan ODIs was announced, Rohit was subject to fitness.
Hence, Rohit has a lot to prove. Firstly, his fitness suggests that he can be fit for the ODI World Cup, which is still a year away. Shedding light on the form, Rohit had a forgetful New Zealand series, where he amassed just 61 runs in 3 innings.
Also Read: List Of India-Born Cricketers Who Have Played International Cricket For Australia
Therefore, a flop series against Afghanistan and a hit show for the likes of Ishan Kishan or Yashasvi Jaiswal means that the questions will be raised again and rightly so.
2. Arshdeep Singh
Another India star, who has a lot to lose, is Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm seamer is coming fresh off a poor IPL season, which has put him under pressure to perform against Afghanistan. In the recently concluded season of IPL, Singh picked up just 14 wickets in 14 matches, bowling at an economy of 10.21.
Besides his bowling, Arshdeep has been under a lot of scrutiny for his controversies. Now with the likes of Prince Yadav getting a place in the team, the left-arm seamer needs to bring out his A game to stay ahead in the pecking order.
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan has marked a return to India’s ODI set-up after 3 years. The southpaw last played for India in ODI World Cup 2023. Now, he has the chance to play at No.3 because of Virat Kohli’s injury. However, if Kishan plays well, then he has the chance to replace Rohit Sharma at the top.
Similar to T20I World Cup, Ishan Kishan has the chance to cement his place as Team India’s opener and go to 2027 ODI World Cup.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Injury Update: Fate Sealed For India vs England ODIs
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