Follow UsAfghanistan are an unpredictable side, filled with talents like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, but Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has made it clear that they are not focusing too much on the individuals and want to get their things right. Despite possessing some serious talents, Afghanistan have won only one encounter in their World Cup history and have started their campaign with a big defeat against Bangladesh.
“Just looking to focus on the process. That is the message that has been given to the team again and again, we just look to play our game well, we just look to do our things right and I am sure we have the team to get the results. If we do our things right, the results will be taken care of. So that is what the focus is on,” said Rathour ahead of India’s second game in Delhi on Wednesday (October 11).
“We are not preparing based on a specific player. We are preparing ourselves. And we are ready for every situation or any conditions that we get. So, every player is important. We don't know how tomorrow is going to be, how the wicket will play, and what the situation will be. If we bat first, we will look to put up as many runs as possible and if we bowl first, we'll try and get them out as early as possible.”
The surface at Delhi has been known for its slowness and spin assistance, but such wasn’t the case when South Africa took on Sri Lanka last week. The surface turned out to be a heaven for batters and the Proteas amassed 428 runs in their 50 overs. In response, Sri Lanka fell short but even they slammed 326 runs in 44.5 overs. The conditions are probably going to be different from what India faced in Chennai, where they defeated Australia on a dry and slow surface.
India went with three spinners in Chennai but that could change in Delhi. “We have the personnel to play on different surfaces. We can go with three seamers, we can go with all-rounders, we have three very good spinners in the team, and we have the batting unit that can adapt and play in any condition. We understand it's nine different venues, nine different wickets. But the strength of this team is adaptability. I think we can adapt really well.”
Rathour didn’t give any clear update on the playing XI but did speak about Shubman Gill, who hasn’t yet recovered from dengue. “He is recovering well. He was hospitalized, yes, but that was more as a precaution. He is back in the hotel; he is recovering well. He is being monitored by the medical team and whatever update we get, we are hoping that he will recover pretty soon.”
In his absence, Ishan Kishan opened the batting alongside Rohit Sharma in Chennai. The two openers couldn’t manage a single run between them and India were reduced to 2/3 in the 200-run chase. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, however, put on 165 runs for the fourth wicket and made sure India went home with two points.
Talking about India’s batting unit, Rathour said: “We have a very experienced batting unit at the moment. I don't think any message is required. Everyone knows how they have to play in this format. Everyone has their own way. We are giving them the freedom to play the way they want to play. And we understand that everybody has a different way of playing.”