India will take on Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024, at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, in Barbados, on Thursday, June 20.
Afghanistan dominated games in the group stages, they lost their final Group C clash against co-hosts, West Indies. On the other hand, Team India led by Rohit Sharma, were unbeaten in Group A.
While India had all their group matches scheduled in the United States (USA), Afghanistan played all their matches in the Caribbean, which might provide them with a better idea of the conditions. The Super 8 phase will be exclusively played in the West Indies (Caribbean).
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However, both teams will play at Kensington Oval for the first time in the tournament. Ahead of the Super 8 clash, the head coaches of India, Rahul Dravid, and Afghanistan, Jonathan Trott discussed about potential conditions and some of their plans for the game at Barbados.
India vs Afghanistan: Rahul Dravid and Jonathan Trott weigh in on Kensington Oval pitch?
Team India coach, Rahul Dravid was speaking at a press conference ahead of the Super 8 match against Afghanistan.
He was asked particularly about how the team planned to adapt to the conditions in the Caribbean, as they are one of the few teams who played all their group-stage games in the USA. Moreover, the team will play all their three Group 1 games of the Super 8 in three different venues - Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia.
Speaking to reporters, Dravid said,
We feel we've got the experience and the knowledge and also the ability to counteract different situations that may present themselves. And then, of course, we are looking at things that the past games that have been played here, what have been the scores, what's the level of swing that people are experiencing, amount of turn they're getting, what's the bounce. So, you look at all of these factors and you come up with some basic ideas.
Just because a particular ground has produced a certain number of runs in the past or even 10 days prior, it can be very different because the preparation of a wicket, the weather, so much can change. I think we will have to be quick and smart, to be able to assess the conditions. I hope we will do that.
The Indian coach will be mindful of the threat that Afghanistan bowlers possess, both their pacers and spinners. Their left-arm pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and has been a menace in the powerplay.
The main threat for India's batters will come in the middle overs when they face talisman wrist spinner, Rashid Khan, coupled with chinaman bowler, Noor Ahmed. The Indian batters who have majorly played in pace-friendly wickets at New York will have to adapt quickly to the changing surfaces.
There's no question about it. Sometimes in certain conditions - you've just got to be mindful of conditions also. Cricket is a very condition-specific game it's one of the only sports left where the surface makes such an impact on the actual skill levels, the actual performance levels, where the surface makes a huge difference, and it has to be brought into consideration at all times.
I think we saw that in the US, and we saw that in New York, that had to be brought into consideration not only for us but for other teams as well. I think everyone had to do that. Even in Australia [during the last T20 World Cup], there were times when you had to consider that. I think that's something we pride ourselves in as well. I think we are also trying to get that ability to be smart in our decision-making and to try and assess situations cleverly.
The match between the two teams will start at 10:30 AM local time and since it is a day game, there is very little chance of dew, which can be a big advantage for the spinners, but also for the seamers early on.
Afghanistan's coach was particularly excited about this factor when facing favourites, India at Barbados.
Quite excited to play India in a day game. I think day games actually suit us better. Obviously, they're one of the favourites and with that, it also has added pressure for India, and hopefully, we can come in perceived as underdogs but in my mind very much not underdogs and fully prepared and ready for the battle.
I think when you've got the spinners with the experience of T20 cricket like we have, I think you would obviously say that's one of our strengths, but yet one of our seamers is a leading wicket-taker in the tournament. We've seen, certainly over the last couple of years, a more rounded side with regards to the ball and on conditions. So, if it swings and seams, we can take wickets; if it spins, hopefully, we can take wickets as well.
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