Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, emphasized the need for his bowlers to pressure Indian batters in the middle overs to compete effectively in the third and final T20I in India on Wednesday.
Afghanistan aims for a consolation win after India secured victories in Mohali and Indore, taking a decisive 2-0 lead in the series.
India has comfortably achieved targets in the previous two matches. “We need to focus on delivering a solid 40 overs tomorrow. Applying pressure on the Indian team during the middle overs will be crucial,” Trott said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
He also highlighted the World Cup in June as a benchmark for improvement. “We have plenty to play for, especially at such a historic venue,” he added.
Afghanistan’s bowling struggles partly stem from Rashid Khan’s injury. Trott mentioned that the team is cautious with Khan’s recovery, ensuring he is fully fit before returning. “There’s no set timeline for his return, but we’re not rushing it,” Trott said.
The coach also noted the Afghan batters’ lackluster performance in the series, attributing it to playing insufficient T20 matches lately. “We’re still finding our rhythm in this format,” he explained.
Trott outlined a strategy for the batsmen to build momentum in the final stretch of the game. “We need to maintain a strong batting presence in the last ten overs. Our performance in Mohali, where we scored 110 runs for two wickets in the last ten, shows our potential,” he said.
Afghanistan will look to balance their approach in the middle overs to compete effectively in the series and upcoming World Cup tournaments.
