We have plans for Rohit and Virat: Afghanistan coach Jonathon Trott

Jonathan Trott Afganistan Coach. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Afghanistan put up an impressive performance in the ODI World Cup and will now be taking on India in a three-match T20I series, starting on January 11. Their head coach Jonathan Trott spoke exclusively to JioCinema. 

Excerpts from the interview: 

On the areas of focus for the series 

I am looking forward to playing good cricket in India. We had a good 50-over World Cup and obviously these three games are important. We are here to win but with one eye on the T20 World Cup in June in the Caribbean. We’ve got nine games currently scheduled and are looking for more, so that we are ready when we go to the Caribbean. 

On the challenges of facing Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) 

Any side that India selects is strong. Add to it the likes of Rohit and Virat and they have been world-class players for a while. We are fortunate enough to have players who have played quite a lot of cricket against them in the IPL. The other guys have watched them on TV, so there will definitely be some plans for them. It’s about executing those plans and making sure that on the day we are ready to do that. 

On Afghanistan’s plans to stop India 

We need to be better in all three facets of the game. We need to win those key moments under pressure. That’s what today’s practice is all about, so that players are ready to perform whenever they get the opportunity to make an impact in a game. 

On whether Rashid Khan’s absence has impacted team selection 

I believe, with Rashid out of the side, it’s a good opportunity for other players to come in and step up and become household names like he is. Obviously, we are going to miss a player like Rashid, his leadership and the overall package he brings to the side. But it’ll be good to see who is going to stand up and take responsibility and pressure, just a couple of months after the World Cup. 

On the takeaways from the 2023 World Cup 

For the players, it’s the belief that they can come to the world stage and beat very, very good sides like we did. The confidence they take from that is what hopefully will sort of feed into the other formats as well. Starting with T20, we know that the momentum can shift quickly so the confidence of having beaten big teams recently will stand them in good stead. But now, we must move on from the World Cup. That’s what I am going to be looking for as well.  

On the road leading to the T20 World Cup 2024 

Afghanistan is known for T20s. The players have played a lot more T20s compared to the other formats. But it’s about making sure we have the in-form 11 players playing together on the pitch. We also need to get the right combinations for different conditions and start building a squad of players that can compete with the likes of the world champions, also adapt to different conditions and not be one dimensional and rely too much on the spin bowling. 

On his journey with the team 

There have been lots of ups and downs. The World Cup is a good introduction for players that they can go with the right mindset, win games and compete with the best. I still feel we could have won a few more games at the World Cup. The players know that, and they share that ambition to get better and succeed. The next 12 months are going to be a crucial time for Afghanistan, an exciting time for Afghanistan and one that I am looking forward to.