India captain Virat Kohli focuses on the ball while batting in the nets during a practice session in Southampton on Thursday. India faces Afghanistan on Saturday, aiming to maintain its unbeaten steak in the World Cup after beating South Africa, Australia and Pakistan in three of its first four matches, with the one against New Zealand being washed out due to rain. Captaining India in a World Cup for the first time, Kohli's decision making has been excellent and he has batted at the right tempo while walking in with India in a strong position batting first against Australia and Pakistan. ▲
Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar and Indian vice-captain Rohit Sharma laugh over a joke during India's practice session in Southampton on Thursday. India has put in committed performances to win three of its four matches so far, with Rohit making two hundreds and a fifty. In Shikhar Dhawan's absence, Rohit's role becomes even more important as the in-form batsman and the senior pro to guide K. L. Rahul through. Opening together for the first time for India in ODI cricket, the Rohit-Rahul pair put on 136 runs for the first wicket against Pakistan. ▲
From left: Mohammed Shami, M. S. Dhoni and Yuzvendra Chahal look on from the balcony, with captain Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the background. India has begun preparing for its fifth match of the World Cup against Afghanistan after a two-day break following the 89-run win by DLS method against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester. ▲
Rishabh Pant, who has replaced Shikhar Dhawan in the Indian World Cup squad, is seen in conversation with former India captain M. S. Dhoni during India's practice session ahead of the match against Afghanistan at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. Pant's exclusion from India's originally-named squad caused an uproar, with the selectors favouring Vijay Shankar for his all-round ability over the batsman-wicketkeeper's power game in the middle order. ▲
Indian captain Virat Kohli mingles with the kids and plays cricket with India engaged in a practice session two days before the match against Afghanistan in Hampshire Bowl. Kohli has two 50-plus scores in three innings so far, while as a captain, he has been tactically astute. Quinton de Kock's dismissal in India's victory over the Proteas is a case in point. India has three wins from four matches, with the scheduled fixture against New Zealand washed out due to rain. ▲
