India faces Afghanistan in the simultaneous fixture of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Guwahati.
IND vs AFG Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Time: 19:00 (IST)
Venue: Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati
IND vs AFG Match Preview
India would have wished to take all three points from their trip to Saudi Arabia which could have placed them in a great position for qualification to the third round. However, the Blue Tigers only had to settle for a point in a disappointing 0-0 draw against a depleted Afghanistan side. It was the fifth game in a row that Igor Stimac’s side failed to score a goal or win a match since defeating Kuwait by 1-0 in November last year. The match provided fewer highlights with India missing some good chances even though it was few but Afghanistan also asked a few questions on the counter. Overall, the draw seemed to be a deserved result with none of the sides being potent in attack. On the occasion of Sunil Chhetri completing his 150th appearance in the second match against Afghanistan, India will wish to end their winless run back at home. Although the point earned in the previous match put them in the second spot ahead of Kuwait, a victory will be important to set them well before facing the Middle Eastern nation in June which is likely the deciding match.
Keeping it solid and not leaking any goal allowed Afghanistan to open their account in their third game of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers after a disastrous start. It was the fourth draw the Lions of Khorasan played with India having shared points in each of the three meetings in the qualifiers so far. While Afghanistan did not produce the performance to hand them a victory with the side disturbed by off-field problems, the credit for earning the first point in the qualifiers will go to their coach Ashley Westwood. He will now have the task of turning his team’s fortunes amid the stiff challenge of facing India in the second match away, Asian champions Qatar at home and making the trip to Kuwait for the last match. Only winning the rest of the fixtures could keep them in contention to move into the next round. However, Afghanistan’s form has not suited them at all with two wins against Mongolia in the first round of the qualifiers the only positive results in two years. They will step onto Guwahati’s pitch as the underdog again but will have the motivation to change the tag once more.
IND vs AFG Recent Form (all competitions)
IND: LLLLD
AFG: WWLLD
IND vs AFG Recent Form (World Cup Qualifiers)
IND: WDWLD
AFG: LWWLD
IND vs AFG Team News
Sahal Samad has been released from the national team camp after suffering a hamstring problem in the training session. Afghanistan has no injury problems to deal with.
IND vs AFG Predicted Lineups
India
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Anwar Ali, Subhasish Bose; Anirudh Thapa, Apuia; Noarem Mahesh, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco; Sunil Chhetri
Afghanistan
Ovays Azizi; Zoheb Islam Amiri, Sharif Mukhammad, Mahboob Hanifi, Habibulla Askar; Omid Popalzay, Mustafa Azadzoy, Jabar Sharza, Rahmat Akbari; Balal Arezou, Omid Musawi
IND vs AFG Head-to-Head (all competitions)
Played - 12
AFG won - 1
Drawn - 4
IND won - 7
India vs Afghanistan (IND vs AFG) Match Prediction
India should take three points against Afghanistan at home despite failing in the away match. However, it will be a tight match and we predict a narrow 1-0 victory for the Blue Tigers.
India vs Afghanistan (IND vs AFG) Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Sunil Chhetri
Vice-captain Pick: Liston Colaco
Our top picks for the IND vs AFG Dream11 team are Sunil Chhetri and Liston Colaco.
IND vs AFG Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Gurpreet (Cr - 8)
DEF: Bheke (Cr - 8), Muhammad (Cr - 8.5), Bose (7.5)
MID: Ahadi (Cr - 8), Apuia (Cr - 7.5), Thapa (8), Sharza (Cr - 8)
FW: Popalzay (Cr - 8.5), Chettri (Cr - 9), Colaco (7)
Vice-captain: Liston Colaco
Captain: Sunil Chhetri
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