India's predicted playing XI for the 2nd T20I vs Afghanistan
India will look to seal the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan when they face off in the second encounter in Indore on Sunday, January 14.
The Men in Blue coasted to a comfortable win in the series opener, and under normal circumstances, they wouldn't want to make changes. However, with a couple of high-profile returns on the cards, tweaks might be necessary.
Team India's squad for the Afghanistan T20Is: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
Here is India's predicted playing XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan.
Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rohit Sharma was run out for a duck on his comeback to T20I cricket as Shubman Gill was totally unresponsive at the non-striker's end. The Indian skipper is running out of time to make an impression in the format and will need to be at his best in Indore.
Yashasvi Jaiswal missed the first T20I with a groin niggle. If he is fit, he should walk back into the playing XI at the expense of Gill, who played a cameo in the last game but didn't do enough to warrant being picked ahead of the left-hander.
Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar
Virat Kohli, who missed the first T20I debut due to personal reasons, is in line to return for the upcoming clash. While his ideal position is at the top of the order in 20-over cricket, he could be deployed at No. 3, given the composition of the team.
Tilak Varma might thus be left out, with the southpaw failing to come up with memorable displays of late. He seems to have clear issues in his technique and approach and is unlikely to be picked ahead of the other middle-order batters following Kohli's return.
Shivam Dube, the Player of the Match in the first T20I, will continue to bat at No. 4. He will be accompanied by Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh, who got to spend some time in the middle in Mohali.
India played two finger-spinning all-rounders in the last game. While Washington Sundar looks a bit out of place in the current side, the hosts might not want to drop him after just one game, in which he bowled at all stages of the innings. So the off-spinner could partner Axar Patel once again.
Lower Order: Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar
![Arshdeep Singh [right] bowled well in the first T20I](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/01/7c601-17048971012433-1920.jpg)
India went in with just two specialist fast bowlers in Mohali. That strategy doesn't seem productive in the long run, but they might not want to move away from it after just one game. Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh will be challenged in the powerplay and at the death.
Ravi Bishnoi was off-color in the first T20I, and with Kuldeep Yadav waiting in the wings, he might not have too much leeway. The leg-spinner, though, should be given another go.