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Saturday 6 June, 05.00
TV: TNT Sports
India v Afghanistan Test team news
India make the switch from white-ball to pink-ball cricket. They have resisted the temptation to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for this one-off Test, but a strong IPL flavour is retained.
Sai Sudharsan has been confirmed at No. 3, with a chance to show he is a genuine all-format player. It would not be in the least surprising if he were able to prove it. Skipper Shubman Gill is at No. 4.
The hosts may opt for three seamers, with the pink ball expected to do something at twilight. Right-arm quick Gurnoor Brar is an option to make his debut. They do have bowling all-rounder options in Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar, but both are spinners.
Possible XI: Jaiswal, Rahul, Sai, Gill, Jurel, Sundar, Reddy, Kuldeep, Siraj, Prasidh, Brar
Afghanistan are without Rashid Khan, which has to be considered a major blow to their chances of being competitive. It is their decision, though.
Rashid has been rested to manage his workload. He has not been a regular when Afghanistan have played Tests because of recurring back and shoulder issues. That includes the innings-and-73-run defeat by Zimbabwe in Afghanistan's previous Test.
There's no Ibrahim Zadran either, comfortably their most efficient technician with the bat. Zadran is not listed in the squad.
The pace stocks are inexperienced. Ziaur Rahman and Mohammad Saleem have played one Test each, while Bilal Sami could make his debut.
Possible XI: Atal, Abdul, Gurbaz, Hashmatullah, Rahmanullah, Alikhil, Omarzai, Rahmat, Rahman, Qais, Saleem
India v Afghanistan Test pitch report
This is the first Test to be played at New Chandigarh, where we generally saw a good batting wicket in the IPL. But, for obvious reasons, we can't use that as a reliable guide. The pink ball was always liable to render any decent sample size irrelevant anyway.
There have been two matches played at the venue in the Ranji Trophy this season. There were big runs in Punjab v Goa, with the latter's 494 for six meaning only three innings were possible in a draw. Maharashtra made 350 in the first innings against Punjab and won by an innings, reducing the hosts to 151 and 107.
We do fear for the Afghan attack, however. India have not been convincing at home, but there appears to be a dearth of proven quality in the Afghan ranks, and keeping a powerful batting line-up quiet may be beyond them.
There are two possible plays to get involved with. Over 38.5 for the fall of India's first wicket at 5/61.84 is one that catches the eye from the Sportsbook, although that would only be a confirmed play if the hosts were batting first. On the Exchange, we would expect India's innings runs to be pushing beyond 430.5 at 1/12.00.
India v Afghanistan Test match prediction
A pink-ball, day-night Test should ordinarily make for a more enticing betting contest despite the mismatch. But we are struggling to find reasons to consider Afghanistan a wrong price at 14/115.00, which is some statement.
As stated, key players are missing and we're not in the least convinced they have the ability to take 20 wickets, either with seam or spin. Qais Ahmed is a favourite of ours, but that is in white-ball cricket.
The visitors would need the best of the conditions to trouble India. And that is a tall order in day-night Tests. They would need to be bowling (and not batting) during each of the swing-friendly periods, most likely when the sun is going down, the temperature is dropping and the lights are coming on.
That is the angle in-play. You may be able to nick a chunk off Afghanistan's price with a quick back-to-lay trade when they are bowling at the optimum time. But it would require them taking two or more wickets quickly.
India v Afghanistan Test player bets
We are keen on Sai to do the business. Coach Gautam Gambhir has said that the Titans opener, who had another sensational IPL, should be afforded the opportunity to nail down the No. 3 slot. He was shabbily treated on the England tour, coming in and out of the side, and it is only right that he gets a run.
Against a potentially feeble attack, we will swerve prices on him to outscore his team-mates. A big ton may not be enough. The first-innings runs play at over 36.5 should be relatively stress-free.
There are no other derivatives. Gill for a ton at 11/43.75 is a price that also sticks out. If we could get 50/100 prices on Sai, we would probably play.
For the Afghans, Azmatullah Omarzai is a player, and he may be overpriced at 7/18.00 for top first-innings bat. Likewise fellow all-rounder Nangeyalia Kharote at 30s. It could be that 40-odd wins that market.
Back Sai Sudharsan over 36.5 1st inns runs
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(1.5pts) back Sai Sudharsan over 36.5 1st inns runs @ 5/61.84