Australia vs Afghanistan Prediction: Afghanistan never won ODI against Aussies

Australia and Afghanistan are going head to head in the 39th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai City, India on 7th November. Both the teams are in impressive run of form at the moment however Afghanistan has never beaten Australia in the ODI game. Who will win this game?

Australia's campaign in the Cricket World Cup began on a sour note with consecutive losses against India and South Africa, but they've rebounded impressively with five successive victories over Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and England. A sixth win in their upcoming match could almost certainly secure their spot in the tournament's semi-finals.

In their previous game against England, Australia played without all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh. It remains to be seen whether one or both of them will return for the next match. Nevertheless, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green have demonstrated their capabilities in filling the void left by Maxwell and Marsh.

Opener David Warner leads the run-scoring charts for Australia in this tournament, amassing an impressive 428 runs in seven innings, which is more than 100 runs ahead of middle-order batter Marnus Labuschagne, who has accumulated 272 runs in the same number of innings. However, former captain Steven Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis have struggled to maintain an average above 30 in the World Cup.

On the bowling front, Australia boasts the tournament's highest wicket-taker overall. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa has surged to 19 wickets in seven matches, maintaining his prolific form. Seamers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have also contributed significantly with 10 wickets each, further solidifying Australia's progress in the competition.

Travis Head, David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Afghanistan has emerged victorious in four out of their last five matches in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. They have notched impressive wins against England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands, with their only setback being a defeat to New Zealand. Securing a victory over Australia would once again underline their determined intent in this competition.

What stands out in Afghanistan's approach this time around is their composed and collected demeanor, which sets them apart. This calmness reflects prominently in their batting and bowling performances, qualities that will be crucial to overcome the confident Australian team riding high on five consecutive wins.

The middle-order duo of Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah have emerged as Afghanistan's top run-scorers in this tournament, amassing 282 and 264 runs, respectively, from seven innings each. Significantly, the team has witnessed five batters crossing the 200-run mark, showcasing a collective and well-rounded effort.

The same collective spirit extends to their bowling resources. No bowler has accumulated more than seven wickets, with two claiming seven, three taking six, and two securing five wickets each. Spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan are notable contributors with seven wickets apiece, despite having an average in the 40s.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

In the last ten ODIs held at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, an equal number of victories have been recorded for the team batting first and the team chasing. However, in the three 2023 Cricket World Cup matches at this venue, all three were claimed by the team setting a target.

Notably, two of these encounters saw the captain who won the toss failing to secure a victory despite making the initial choice. Therefore, it's expected that the toss-winning captain in the upcoming match will likely opt to bat first, considering the historical trends.

The Wankhede Stadium is renowned for its high-scoring nature. The first three matches of this tournament hosted here witnessed imposing first-innings totals of 399, 382, and 357. It's worth noting that across these six innings, teams were only bowled out on three occasions.

This fixture marks the final round-robin match at the Wankhede Stadium for this tournament, with the ground also slated to host the first semi-final. Given the stadium's characteristics, it would be advisable to include at least two specialist spinners in the team.

The weather forecast for the days leading up to the match is free from rain, and there are no predictions of wet weather on matchday. With a regular start time, the dew factor is less likely to have a significant impact.

Australia enters this match with considerable momentum, boasting five consecutive wins, even in their most recent victory with a depleted lineup. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has never secured an ODI win against Australia, which may well continue in this encounter.