IND vs AFG Live – Kohli, Shastri & Dhoni in intense discussion: It’s a make or break for team India today as they take on Afghanistan at 7.30PM. As India prepared for the game, during Tuesday evening session Team India skipper Virat Kohli, head coach Ravi Shastri and mentor MS Dhoni were seen having intense discussion for almost 20-30 mins. While Shastri left, Kohli and Dhoni continued for some more time before the short session was wrapped up. Follow IND vs AFG LIVE Score & T20 World Cup Live Updates on InsideSport.in.
IND vs AFG LIVE: Big Afghanistan test today for Indian team, Shastri, Kohli, Dhoni in intense discussion during ‘Optional Practice’, check what happened
Suryakumar Yadav set to return? Before their discussion, Virat Kohli had a long chat with Suryakumar Yadav as the Mumbai batsman returned to practice after sitting out of the last match with a back spasm.
MS Dhoni also had a separate chat with Ravi Shastri during that. By the looks of it, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to get a go in India’s middle-order while it’s a toss-up between Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan.
IND vs AFG Live: Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni hold intense discussion during ‘Optional Practice’ – Check pics
Despite being an optional practice session, Team India stars including skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma all returned to training ahead of a do-or-die match against Afghanistan on Wednesday. In good news, Suryakumar Yadav too returned to practice after sitting out of the New Zealand match with a back spasm.
However, Team India decided to skip training earlier and take the day off to recharge and rebuild before facing Afghan challenge. However, they returned to training amid backlash over their performance and two embarrassing defeats on the trot.
IND vs AFG Live: Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni hold intense discussion during ‘Optional Practice’ – Check pics
Skipper Virat Kohli and deputy Rohit Sharma were the first to hit the nets as the frontline pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami gave the session a miss to recover for the game on Wednesday.
IND vs AFG Live: Ravindra Jadeja hit sixes for fun – Another good news was the presence of batsman Suryakumar Yadav. Having missed the crucial game against New Zealand on Sunday due to back spasm, Surya returned to the training ground and started off with a light jogging session.
He followed it up with some fitness drills under the watchful eyes of assistant strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai. Physio Nitin Patel and strength and conditioning coach Nick Webb were right there watching Surya go through the drills.
That’s some hitting, @imjadeja ! 👌 👌#TeamIndia #T20WorldCup #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/Yf89bCRlB1
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 3, 2021
.@imVkohli Practice 🏏#ViratKohli #TeamIndia #T20WorldCup #INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/OACOvtThPD
— VIRAT KOHLI GIFS™ (@GifsVirat) November 2, 2021
IND vs AFG Live: Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni hold intense discussion during ‘Optional Practice’ – Check pics
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan follow Kohli and Rohit.
SKY also underwent extended fitness drills before padding up.#INDvAFG #T20WorldCup @News9Tweets pic.twitter.com/w03eVyVvBU
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) November 2, 2021
While the batting department had almost all the big names present, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul gave the session a miss. But with the bat Ravindra Jadeja hit sixes for fun to get ready for the Afghanistan match. He top-scored for India against New Zealand and with Hardik Pandya still not fully fit and out of form, Jadeja is expected to play the finisher role to support the flamboyant India all-rounder.
In the bowling department, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur were present, as were Deepak and Rahul Chahar. All-rounder Hardik Pandya also skipped the session as the team gears up for the toughest game of their campaign in terms of results.
IND vs AFG Live: Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni hold intense discussion during ‘Optional Practice’ – Check pics
Losses in their opening two matches against Pakistan and New Zealand has put Virat Kohli and boys in a critical situation. The Men in Blue will square off against Afghanistan on Wednesday with their backs against the wall. Only a win can help India stay alive, mathematically, in the showpiece event.
It will be a change in venue for India after playing both their opening games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as they will play Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Having faced the wrath of the fans as well for below-par performances so far, it will also be about pride for Kohli’s men as they play under his leadership in the T20 format for the last time in this tournament.
IND vs AFG Live: Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni hold intense discussion during ‘Optional Practice’ – Check pics
But it won’t be easy as Afghanistan have looked good and Team India face an uphill task to reach the semifinal stages. They need to first win their remaining matches and then they would be hoping for some results to go in their favour. A win against Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland will not be enough, Team India needs to register comprehensive wins as the net run rate might come into play as well.