Afghanistan needs 225 to beat India

Afghanistan has won the first battle against India after limiting Virat Kohli's team to 224-8 at Southampton and giving itself a chance of possibly the greatest shock victory in Cricket World Cup history.

Kohli won the toss and chose to bat, saying it looked a very good wicket.

It proved a decent one for Kohli at least, scoring a 63-ball 67. Kedar Jadhav finished on 52, including India's only six of the surprisingly muted innings.

Virat Kohli is out and unbeaten India is unexpectedly struggling at 135-4 against Afghanistan in the 31st over of their Cricket World Cup group game at Southampton.

The India captain top-edged Mohammad Nabi to third man Rahmat Shah and was dismissed for a 63-ball 67 with five boundaries.

India is making slower progress than expected against Afghanistan at the halfway mark of its innings in the Cricket World Cup group game at Southampton.

India was 115-2 after 25 overs with captain Virat Kohli again playing the key role for his country with 53 not out off 51 balls. He has shared a 51-run partnership with Vijay Shankar, who was on 27.

Rohit Sharma was bowled by spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman for only 1 after scores of 140, 57 and 122 not out in his previous three innings. That left India 7-1 in the fifth over.

KL Rahul (30) was the other man out, caught by Hazratullah Zazai off the bowling of Mohammad Nabi.

The 28th match of the Cricket World Cup has started with India looking to keep its unbeaten record at the tournament, and pile up a big total against Afghanistan.

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar injured, second seamer Mohammed Shami pairs up with Jasprit Bumrah for India for the first time in the ODI format.

India all-rounder Vijay Shankar retained his spot ahead of attacking wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who was flown in as a replacement for the injured Shikhar Dhawan. KL Rahul now is firmly in place as the opening partner for Rohit Sharma.

"Whether we are playing a very strong team, or one that is coming up the ranks, our mindset is the same," India skipper Virat Kohli said at the toss. "We cannot take Afghanistan lightly; they are a dangerous side when in the groove."

Afghanistan brought in Hazratullah Zazai and Aftab Alam to replace Noor Ali Zadran and Dawlat Zadran. With like-for-like replacement in batting and bowling, respectively, it means Afghanistan still retain their three-pronged spin attack from its previous game. Skipper Gulbadin Naib will contribute with medium pace, and is also slated to open the batting again.

Naib said he had hoped to bat first but now Afghanistan face a potentially tough time in the field.

India captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup group game at Hampshire's Rose Bowl.

Kohli says it looks "like a really good wicket," and so does the weather for the game.

India made one change from its 89-run win over archrival Pakistan last Sunday, bringing in bowler Mohammed Shami for the injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Afghanistan made two changes from its 15-run defeat to England where it batted for all 50 overs for the first time this tournament, bringing in Hazratullah Zazai and Aftab Alam.

Lineups:

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (captain), Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib (captain), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Ali Khil, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

India and New Zealand are the only teams still unbeaten in the Cricket World Cup and both are in action Saturday as the tournament moves into its 24th day.

India takes on Afghanistan at the Rose Bowl in Southampton in the opening game, and New Zealand plays West Indies in a day-night match at Manchester's Old Trafford.

Two-time champion India and 2015 finalist New Zealand have won all their games except for a washout between the two teams.

India and Afghanistan have never met at the World Cup. India is the heavy favorite, having won 14 of its last 15 CWC matches. Afghanistan has lost all five matches in this edition.