India vs Afghanistan 2018: 5 player battles to watch out for

They are perhaps the most exciting team in the world at the moment and they take that step towards Test cricket after having captured the attention of everyone around, in white ball cricket.

Their recent success against Bangladesh in the just-concluded T20 series in Dehradun is a testament to the fact that they cannot be taken lightly and that when Ajinkya Rahane leads the Indian team out for the one-off Test match in Bengaluru on June 14, he will be aware that these Afghans will put up a fight and that India can take them lightly at their own peril.

The Indian team on the other hand too would want to get into the red ball mode as a challenging tour of England looms large. It will be a series of two contrasting priorities, it will be a contest when both the teams would not want to blink and it will eventually come down the respective players.

Here in this slider, we take a look at five player battles which might determine the eventual result of the match.

#5 Mujeeb ur Rahman vs KL Rahul

The two success stories in this year's Indian Premier League, Kings XI Punjab's KL Rahul, and Mujeeb ur Rahman will lock horns against each other as adversaries.

While Rahul has established himself as India's number 1 Test opener, Mujeeb has tasted significant success in T20 cricket in the recent past.

Hence, this match-up might well prove to be one which could set the tone of the match and then go a long way in determining the eventual outcome after five days.

Rahul will be playing in his home ground and he should ideally be well-equipped to tackle the mystery of Mujeeb, but the young man has already given a great account of his temperament which will hold him in great stead in his first stint with the red ball.

#4 Ishant Sharma vs Asghar Stanikzai

Ishant has been in brilliant form

Afghanistan's captain Asghar Stanikzai will already script history when he leads his side to take on the hosts in Bengaluru. However, after the euphoria subsides, he will have to step up as a batsman and get the job done.

His biggest threat will be Ishant Sharma, who has been in roaring form for Sussex during his county stint and has looked very threatening with visible changes in lengths.

Ishant would also want to seal his spot in the bowling attack for the England series and hence this match might well determine his immediate future.

#3 R Ashwin vs Mohammad Nabi

Ashwin will be back in familiar territory

Two experienced players from either side will have the responsibility of controlling the innings with the ball and bat respectively.

While Nabi can also chip in with the ball, his batting will have to come to the fore against the guile of Ashwin who will be in familiar territory.

The Tamil Nadu off-spinner has been India's biggest match-winner in Test matches over the last three years and thus the experience of Nabi should ensure that he puts his hand up and takes on the threat.

#2 Mohammed Shami vs Mohammad Shehzad

Shami would want to seal his Test spot

Shami has been in the midst of personal turmoil in the recent past, and this has had an effect on his bowling too. He was not very convincing in the Indian Premier League playing for the Delhi Daredevils and hence, this particular match is very important for him if he has to secure his Test berth against England.

However, he will be up against a plucky Mohammad Shehzad, Afghanistan's wicket-keeper and batsman, who has been one of their lynchpins over the years.

Shehzad has the strokes, he has the experience and it will now boil down to his temperament as he will be up against an extremely skillful bowler in Shami.

#1 Rashid Khan vs Cheteshwar Pujara

The hottest property in cricket at the moment

He has been the toast of the cricketing world over the past fifteen months and the 'best bowler in T20 cricket' will have eyeballs tracking him when he bounces in and releases that cricket ball.

Rashid has been in sensational form with the white ball, but Test match and its nuances are an entirely different kettle of fish and he would know that here he will not get wickets for fun, but will have to prise them out.

Pujara will be one of those prized possessions Rashid would hope to scalp, but the going might not be very easy. The right-hander will never blink and he has to be forced out to step out of his bubble in Test cricket and this is where the challenge lies.

How Pujara tackles Rashid and plots his downfall might well drop the hammer on the eventual result of the match.