NEWS
Follow UsIn January this year, India and Afghanistan clashed in an epic T20 International (T20I) game in Bengaluru. The game needed two Super Overs to determine a winner. India eventually had the last laugh, but Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott believes that it was an indication that the gap between them and some big teams is reducing.
Trott's side may not have walked away as winners in that game, but hopes that Afghanistan learn from that and register their first win over India on June 20 (Thursday) at the T20 World Cup.
"What I take away from the match is we should have won it in that super over. But also, what I take away is that it shows how the gap is closing with regards to our side, the ability that our players have to be able to chase as well in T20 cricket," Trott said ahead of the India game in Barbados.
"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. So, there was a lot of things to take away from that game. It would be nice to walk away with a victory, but hopefully we're saving that for tomorrow."
In Trott's mind, there are no underdogs in T20 cricket but aware that India being favourites, there will be a lot of expectations from the. He hopes to exploit that. Moreover, given that the match will be a day game, there's no question of dew, which greatly benefits Afghanistan given that they are quite reliant on them.
"Quite excited to play India in a day game," Trott said.
"Obviously, they're a very, very good side in the day. Obviously, one of the favourites, and being favourites obviously has added pressure for India, 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."
Afghanistan suffered a massive defeat at the hands of West Indies in their last group stage game. That came as a huge blow after they managed to win all three of their previous three games to make the Super Eights. While Trott believes they will learn from the defeat, he says that their best in the tournament is yet to come.
"I think like any game, you look at what the venue, what's going on here and the matches from the group stage and have a look at the wicket," Trott said.
"You just treat it like a normal game. With the title obviously being in the Super Eights and all that sort of stuff, you can straight away talk the game up and start looking for things that perhaps aren't there. Go out there, play a normal game, play our best game, which is something I still don't think we've done. We've still got our best game to come in us. We put everything together and hopefully that's tomorrow."
After India, Afghanistan will have to contend with Australia (June 22) and Bangladesh (June 24), both at St Vincent.
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