India won the toss and chose to bat first in their Super-8 match against Afghanistan in Group 1 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday. The decision was made as Afghanistan had secured three victories in their matches, placing them second in Group C rankings.
The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, commenced their World Cup campaign with a convincing eight-wicket triumph over Ireland at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. This victory was pivotal as it also secured wins against Pakistan and USA at the same venue, ensuring their advancement to the next round. However, their final group stage encounter against Canada in Florida was abandoned due to a wet outfield.
Afghanistan also started their campaign strongly by winning their initial three matches against Uganda, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, showcasing their competitive prowess. Despite a loss to the West Indies, Afghanistan, captained by Rashid Khan, had previously demonstrated their capability by defeating strong teams like England and Pakistan at the previous year’s ODI World Cup, establishing them as formidable opponents in the Super-8 stage.