England vs Afghanistan Prediction: Both teams haven't had the start they were looking for in this World Cup

England and Afghanistan are going head to head in the 13th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium - Central Delhi, India on 15th October. Both teams haven't had the start they were looking for in this World Cup. Who will win this game?

England form

The defending champions didn't enjoy an ideal start to their campaign, suffering a comprehensive defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their opening fixture. However, they rebounded impressively in the following match, securing a commanding 137-run victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday.

England boasts one of the most potent batting line-ups in this tournament and will rely on it to post a substantial total in this game. In the last match, Johnny Bairstow and Dawid Malan formed a formidable 115-run partnership, displaying excellent form. Malan, in particular, went on to register his sixth ODI century, while Joe Root, who had faced a lean patch leading up to the World Cup, notched consecutive half-centuries.

The middle-order, however, has encountered some difficulties in the tournament thus far, a concern that England will need to address. Players like Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone are all highly talented but have yet to find their rhythm.

Reece Topley delivered an exceptional performance in the previous match, claiming four wickets, and is set to lead the pace attack once again. He will receive support from Chris Woakes and Mark Wood on the opposite end. While the absence of experienced bowlers like Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan is noticeable, we anticipate England's bowlers adapting to the conditions in due course.

The spin department is somewhat understaffed, with Adil Rashid being the sole specialist spinner in the squad.

England Predicted Lineup

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook/ Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Afghanistan form

Afghanistan's ongoing struggles in World Cup matches persist as the team has faced defeats in both of its initial fixtures. With a series of challenging matchups on the horizon in the coming week, they must conjure something extraordinary to accumulate points.

While Afghanistan boasts several exceptional individual talents, they must harmonize their efforts to secure victories. The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, capable of wreaking havoc on their day, has struggled to fully capitalize on their promising starts in recent matches.

Nonetheless, there were encouraging individual performances against India, with Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai both notching half-centuries, particularly against a formidable Indian bowling attack. Similar to England, Afghanistan's middle order has faced difficulties, with Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi all enduring struggles with the bat.

The bowling department offers ample room for improvement as well. The trio of seamers, Azmatullah, Naveen Ul-Haq, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, have only managed to claim a solitary wicket each. Afghanistan's spin attack also has room for enhancement, with Rashid Khan being the sole wicket-taker thus far. 

Afghanistan Predicted Lineup

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Expert betting tips

The team that secures the toss is likely to opt for fielding first. Delhi's pitch is conducive to batting, as witnessed in the initial two matches. The ground features a flat surface with minimal assistance for bowlers. Bowlers will need to maintain accuracy with their line and length, as any loose deliveries are bound to be capitalised upon.

Teams batting first will target a score of approximately 350, offering their bowlers a competitive chance.

The weather is expected to remain predominantly clear, with a few scattered clouds. Temperatures are likely to range from 29 to 34 degrees Celsius. As previously mentioned, Afghanistan has struggled to deliver despite possessing talented players, and we anticipate a similar outcome on Sunday. England boasts a formidable batting lineup that can effectively challenge their opponents' out-of-form bowling attack.

Consider placing a bet on England to secure the victory.