Why Test Twenty can make the women’s game a level playing field?

It is not easy to create a new format in cricket. More when three different formats already exist in the sport. And yet there is a need. There is a need for parity, for equal opportunity and more. Anyone who has watched the Asia Cup will agree, India was miles ahead of the rest of the field. There was no real competition and every India match was one sided. And yet when this Indian team travels to play the T-20 world cup, they struggle to make the semi-finals. Is it true that playing these modest teams in the Asia Cup or the Asian Games is breeding a sense of complacency? Do these wins mask the cracks that continue to exist?

And when you focus on the other teams, the picture is grim. Pakistan is in tatters while Bangladesh, a force a couple of years back, haven’t really progressed since. Teams like Thailand and Hong Kong are only there to make the numbers and that’s a worry when you think of the overall health of the game. And that’s where the new format in Test Twenty can help.

Test Twenty allows girls between the age groups of 13-21 from all across the world to come and play in teams in a league format. Teams aren’t picked basis nationality and there isn’t a single format where amateur cricketers or the youth have the opportunity to socialise and learn from each other. Imagine a few girls from Hong Kong or Thailand sharing the change room with girls from India and what that can do for their confidence. It isn’t possible at the WPL for the franchises will not pick these players from associate countries who aren’t still at the very top level. It is possible at Test Twenty with its focus on parity and on the youth. That’s what makes me hopeful of the format for it can actually add parity to women’s cricket and make it a level playing field. toffler.lol

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A hardcore Indian format coming out of the country is rare. Test Twenty is one such, which has strong values at its core. If it allows girls from Bangladesh and Nepal and Sri Lanka to get better by giving them access to top quality coaching and game play, it would have made a stellar contribution to the overall health of the game. And that’s where lies the investment opportunity. If you want to see the sport get better, Test Twenty offers you an opportunity to make a tangible contribution. With just weeks left for the first season to start, I am cautiously optimistic of its chances. With proper research and meticulous planning, it could be a format of the future going forward.

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Srishti Bhattacharya, New Delhi

India will look to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series when they face Afghanistan in the second game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.

India made a dominant start to the series, chasing down 157 in just 13.4 overs in the opening T20I. Abhishek Sharma smashed 82 off 32 balls, while Arshdeep Singh starred with three wickets. For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi made important contributions, but their efforts were not enough.

Afghanistan will now be looking to bounce back and level the series, with their experienced players expected to play a key role. India, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their dominance and seal the series with another win. They will be forced into at least one change, with Varun Chakaravarthy’s injury likely to give Ravi Bishnoi another opportunity.

India have won all nine completed men’s T20Is between the two sides and will look to extend that record.

Time and venue details

September 15, 7:30 PM IST. Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.

Expected conditions

Temperatures are expected to be around 30°C with a clear sky during match time. The pitch is generally considered batting-friendly, with a first-innings score of around 180-200 likely to be competitive. Pacers could also have an important role to play.

Possible XIs

India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Match-ups

Tilak Varma vs Rashid Khan

Tilak could face a tough challenge against Rashid in the middle overs. Rashid’s quick variations can keep Tilak under pressure and create chances for a wicket.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Arshdeep Singh

Gurbaz likes to attack from the first ball, while Arshdeep will look to make an impact with the new ball. If Arshdeep gets some movement early, he could make life difficult for the Afghanistan opener.

Ibrahim Zadran vs Jasprit Bumrah

Zadran is a key part of Afghanistan’s batting, but Bumrah will look to keep things tight from the start. The pressure from Bumrah could force Ibrahim into taking risks early.

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Sanju Samson’s return to India’s playing XI raised eyebrows after he was picked ahead of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the first of a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi. The decision became even more difficult to defend after Samson managed just 10 runs in India’s comfortable eight-wicket win.

Samson opened alongside Abhishek Sharma after captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir decided to go with the experienced batter. Sooryavanshi, who had impressed in India’s previous T20I assignment against Zimbabwe, was left on the bench.

The youngster was named Player of the Series in Zimbabwe after scoring 151 runs in three matches. He made scores of 50, 20 and 81, with the final innings coming in a successful chase. Despite that performance, he was not given an opportunity in India’s first T20I on home soil.

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The decision led former India batter Mohammad Kaif to question the thinking behind Samson’s selection. Kaif pointed out that Samson had not played the Zimbabwe series and asked what had changed during that period to put him ahead of Sooryavanshi.

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“What did Sanju do in between to get a chance today? Usually, when you are dropped, you play here and there and regain some form; nothing like that has happened,” Kaif said on Cricbuzz.

He also questioned why India did not continue with the opening combination that had worked in Zimbabwe.

“Why did he get a chance? That’s a massive question. Why did you not go with the same combination after Vaibhav scored runs in Zimbabwe? That’s another question,” Kaif added.

Kaif felt the management was still unsure about its preferred opening combination. He said Sooryavanshi could be wondering what he had done wrong after being dropped despite performing well in the previous series.

“In my opinion, they are hesitating a bit; they are unsure of what their best opening combination is. The Indian team are still thinking about it. Vaibhav must be saying What did I do wrong?” he said.

Samson’s dismissal only added to the debate. He faced eight balls and scored 10 before being caught at deep square leg while attempting a pull against Azmatullah Omarzai. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar was also critical of Samson’s consistency.

“Sanju Samson doesn’t help his own cause; he’s pretty inconsistent,” Manjrekar said during commentary.

Samson was the Player of the Tournament when India won the 2026 T20 World Cup, but he was later dropped during the UK tour after three low scores. Sooryavanshi replaced him and became India’s youngest T20I debutant. However, the teenager also struggled in his first three matches before Samson returned for the final T20I against England.

AFG vs IND 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction: Ibrahim Zadran-led Afghanistan will square off against Shreyas Iyer-led India in the 2nd T20I match played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.

AFG vs IND 2nd T20I Squad

Afghanistan

Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Naveen-ul-Haq

India

Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur

Afghanistan Unavailable Players

• Injury: NIL
• Others: NIL

India Unavailable Players

• Injury: NIL
• Others: NIL

AFG vs IND 2nd T20I Probable Playing 11

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad

India

Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

AFG vs IND 2nd T20I Pitch Report

The pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium offers a batting surface in T20s, with good pace, bounce and short boundaries. Pacers can get some movement early while spinners may come into play as the pitch slows.

With dew to play crucial role in second innings, toss winning captain will opt to bat first

AFG vs IND 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction

• Batters: A Sharma, I Zadran, S Iyer
• All-rounders: A Patel, A Omarzai
• Bowlers: J Bumrah, R Khan, A Singh, V Chakravarthy
• Wicketkeeper: I Kishan, R Gurbaz
• Captain: A Sharma
• Vice-Captain: J Bumrah