New Delhi: Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott is all excited to take on India in a “day game” as both teams kick off their Super Eight show of the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on Thursday. Trott feels that his team is a stronger unit under daylight and expects his sprightly side to fully use the conditions against a formidable India in a high-voltage clash between the Asians.
“Day games actually suit us better. So, quite excited to play India in a day game. Obviously, they are one of the favourites and obviously, that has added pressure for India,” the ex-England Test batter said at the pre-match press conference.
Afghanistan come into the Super Eights on the back of three wins in their four league games, including the one against New Zealand. Their only loss came against West Indies earlier this week but surely won’t down the highly confident Afghan side which has firmly taken off the underdog badge from themselves. Trott doesn’t feel that Afghanistan can be called underdogs anymore.
“……..and hopefully, we can come in obviously perceived as underdogs but in my mind very much not underdogs and fully prepared and ready for the battle that confronts us tomorrow which I’m very excited about,” Trott said.
Afghanistan were very close to a semifinal berth in the ODI World Cup in India last year and are all the more stronger in the shortest format of the game. Every heavyweight in the tournament is wary of them and Trott looks at it as a compliment.
“It’s a compliment, but also earned as well. We’ve had, as you see in the IPL, we’ve got a lot of players playing a lot of T20 cricket around the world and now it’s about putting that together as a side I think in the past we’ve had some good individual players, but we need all those players playing together as a side,” Trott added.
IND vs AFG double Super Over thriller
The Asian neighbours were involved in a thrilling double Super Over clash in Bengaluru earlier this year. Trott was reminded of that game and spoke about his takings from it. He said that Afghanistan should have won it and also notified about how the gap is closing with regards to their side and their ability to be able to chase as well in T20 cricket.
“That was a fantastic chase in Bangalore and unfortunately, we didn’t win. To have a second Super over, I’m not sure that’s ever happened before,” Trott said.
Sprightly Afghanistan face India in a T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 clash at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
