Nayar Warns India Not to Underestimate Afghanistan in ODI Series

Gill & Co. must not make the mistake of taking Afghanistan lightly in ODIs: Nayar

New Delhi, June 10

India will play its first ODI against Afghanistan on June 13 in Dharamshala, and is followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai. "Afghanistan will be a much tougher challenge in this ODI series. Almost every player in their white‑ball squad plays franchise cricket around the world. That gives them a lot of exposure.

"Whether it's T20s or ODIs, they play an aggressive brand of cricket. Their bowlers have the ability to trouble Indian batters as well. That said, there is still a big gap in quality between the two sides.

"Afghanistan will be aiming to win at least two games in this series. If they manage that, it will be a huge achievement for them and a major upset for India. So, Shubman Gill and his men must not make the mistake of taking Afghanistan lightly," said Nayar on JioHotstar.

On the number three slot in Kohli's absence, Nayar, the former India assistant coach, selected Ishan Kishan ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal. "If you look at the recent form of Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan has always stepped up whenever there has been an injury. He has performed well every time.

"He was excellent in the T20 World Cup and also did well against New Zealand in the T20I series. He is a more experienced and proven option at number three compared to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal is naturally an opener. In his last ODI, he scored a century while opening the innings. So based on experience and comfort in the number three role, I would go with Ishan Kishan."

Nayar also explained the bowling combinations India can explore in absence of many first-choice bowlers. "I feel Harsh Dubey will play because the team will need a left‑arm spinner. He is also a useful all‑rounder. The real question is which fast bowlers will get a chance. I want to see Prasidh Krishna's workload managed carefully.

"If the team wants to give him game time, they should also look at Gurnoor Brar. He was part of the Test squad but didn't get a chance to play there. However, he should be in the scheme of things for the ODI playing XI.

"Prince Yadav has also performed very well recently. So, I would like to see Harsh Dubey with either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar, along with Arshdeep Singh. These bowlers have played a lot of cricket and should be given a chance to prove themselves," he said.

With the preparation for 2027 Men's ODI World Cup the main focus, former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla stressed on the importance of giving emerging players exposure. "Rohit Sharma is the main man for India in this ODI series. He only plays one format now, so his game time matters. With Virat not in the squad, more responsibility falls on Rohit's shoulders. He will be keen to deliver, especially in home conditions.

"The 2027 World Cup is still far away, but preparation starts early. In the conditions expected for that tournament, which may offer pace and bounce, Nitish Kumar Reddy could also be a big part of the plans. In this year's IPL, he has improved a lot. His speed has increased, he has more variations, and he is picking up wickets.

"So, we need to keep an eye on him and others like him. Harsh Dubey should also get a game or two in this series. He has done well in the Ranji Trophy and the IPL. This is the right time to give young players a chance and see how they fit into the bigger picture for 2027," he concluded.

— IANS