India and Afghanistan are ready to begin their 3-match T20I Friendship Cup series, with the first match scheduled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, September 13.
The high-profile contest will begin at 7:00 PM IST, with India led by Shreyas Iyer and Afghanistan captained by Ibrahim Zadran.
India will enter the series with a clear psychological advantage, but the pitch and evening conditions in Delhi could have a major say in the result.
India hold the upper hand against Afghanistan
India have dominated Afghanistan in T20I cricket so far. The two teams have faced each other nine times, with India winning eight matches and one ending in a tie.
Afghanistan will therefore have a difficult task on their hands if they want to start the series with a victory. However, T20 cricket can change quickly, and the conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium could make this contest interesting.
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch is generally considered a good surface for batting, with relatively short boundaries adding to the challenge for bowlers.
The Delhi wicket is expected to offer decent pace and bounce, allowing batters to play their shots with confidence. The ball is likely to come nicely onto the bat, particularly during the powerplay overs.
With the short boundaries around the ground, bowlers will have very little room for error. A strong start could therefore put the batting team in an excellent position.
Considering the expected conditions, a first-innings total around 200 runs could be a competitive benchmark.
Can bowlers get any help in Delhi?
Although the pitch is expected to favour batters, bowlers are unlikely to be completely out of the game. Fast bowlers could get some movement from the new ball during the opening overs.
However, that assistance is expected to be limited. As the ball gets older, spinners could become increasingly important during the middle overs.
Both India and Afghanistan have quality spin options, making the middle overs a potentially decisive phase of the match. The team that controls the scoring rate while picking up wickets could gain a significant advantage.
Dew could influence IND vs AFG 1st T20I
Another important factor could be dew. Dew often becomes a factor during evening matches in Delhi, and its presence could make life difficult for bowlers in the second innings.
A wet ball is harder to grip, particularly for spinners. Fast bowlers can also struggle to execute slower deliveries and variations when the ball gets slippery. The wet outfield could further make batting easier as the innings progresses.
What should captain do after winning the toss?
The conditions could make bowling first after winning the toss an attractive option. If dew arrives during the second innings, chasing could become easier under the lights.
Captains may therefore prefer to put the opposition in first, restrict them to a manageable total and then chase with a wet ball making things tougher for the bowlers. However, the final decision will depend on the exact pitch and weather conditions on match day.
IND vs AFG 1st T20I: What to expect?
India will start as favourites based on their impressive T20I record against Afghanistan but Afghanistan have several match-winners who can turn a T20 game around in a matter of minutes.
The Delhi pitch is expected to provide plenty of entertainment for batters, while spinners could become important during the middle overs.
With Shreyas Iyer and Ibrahim Zadran leading their respective sides, the toss could also become an important factor.
For cricket fans, the combination of a batting-friendly pitch, short boundaries and possible evening dew could set the stage for a high-scoring thriller at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.