Former Afghanistan coach Umesh Patwal warned India to be careful against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight.
Former Afghanistan batting coach Umesh Patwal has cautioned India to be wary of their upcoming encounter against Afghanistan in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup.
India has an undefeated record against Afghanistan in T20 internationals, with their last meeting resulting in a tie and a subsequent double super over in Bengaluru earlier this year.
“India will need to be very careful because Afghanistan has a history of upsetting big teams in major white-ball tournaments. They haven’t beaten India yet, and I believe that’s their next target. I predicted they would cause upsets, and they did,” Patwal said.
Patwal highlighted Afghanistan’s potential to put pressure on India, referencing their close encounters in the past. “They tied with India at the Asia Cup in Dubai in 2018. This time, they’ll be looking to go one step further, whether it’s against India or Australia,” he explained.
The Super Eight group also includes Australia and Bangladesh. Patwal expressed optimism about Afghanistan’s chances of reaching the semifinals. “Last year’s World Cup saw Glenn Maxwell score a double-hundred against them. Now, it’s their chance for redemption. They have a good chance of finishing in the in the top two in the group. I always expected them to reach the semifinals last year as well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did it again this time,” said Patwal.
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Patwal suggested a strategic approach for Afghanistan. “Winning the toss and batting first against India and Australia could be beneficial. They can then put pressure on these teams in the second inning,” he advised.
“Bowling first against Bangladesh might be their preference. Their bowling attack, especially the addition of left-arm fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi, could be a major advantage against teams known for playing spin well,” Patwal added.
Patwal pointed to Afghanistan’s historic win over the West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup as an example of their potential on spin-friendly pitches. However, he acknowledged their struggles in chasing big totals, citing their recent loss to the West Indies after failing to chase down a target of 219.
“Their batting struggles become evident when they need to chase big scores. 160 or less seems like a more manageable target for them,” Patwal concluded.
Last Updated on June 19, 2024
