Rashid Khan, Afghanistan spinner asserted despite recent defeat against India they are still filled with confidence. Afghanistan suffered a 66-run defeat against India in the Super 12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul had played knocks of 74 and 69, respectively, as India posted a total of 210/2 in the allotted twenty overs. Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin combined to take five wickets.
Rashid Khan Credits India For Taking Target To 210, Which Was 20-30 Runs Extra
After two similar defeats in this T20 World Cup, India has registered the highest score of this tournament, 210 against Afghanistan, and a big win as a result. India will now hope Afghanistan upset New Zealand, following which they can hope to correct their own net run-rate in the last match of the Super 12s, against Namibia.
“Looking to the wicket it’s a wicket where you can chase 170, 180, but that extra 30 runs, it’s always like a good — like in India they have a big batting lineup so they try to use the last three, four overs, which they took the total to 210,” said Rashid Khan during the post-match press conference.
“Yeah, I think that was the kind of mindset of the players, that already the Indian team, they struggled in the first two games in the batting department, so we as a team just tried to attack in that department which they struggled, and if we have the success we can be on a winning side. They played good cricket, and they just took the target to 210, which was on this wicket a bit much, like 20, 25 runs. But yeah, credit goes to them,” Rashid Khan added.
When asked whether expectations are taking a toll on Afghanistan, Rashid Khan said: “I don’t think that there is a kind of pressure on us expectation-wise. We know our skills. It’s all about playing against those big teams, it takes time.”
“We have to play with them more in a year in order to get used to them, understand them, their weakness, strong point. Then you work on your areas where you can come back stronger.
“I think as a team we hardly get the opportunity to play with them, against India and other good sides. We don’t get that opportunity. We only play with them in the World Cup. As a team you have that kind of big team pressure.
“We know playing all around the world in the leagues with them and we’re used to with them, but still, the rest of the players, they need that kind of belief in themselves that we can deliver against a big side, as well. But it’s just kind of that belief. Once it comes, I think we can beat any side in a day, but that will come when we play more cricket with those teams,” Rashid Khan maintained.
Against a side missing one of their two big spinners, Mujeeb ur Rahman, India’s openers – KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma – looked more at home, putting together India’s biggest opening stand at T20 World Cups. Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant then provided India with the finishing kick with a 63-run partnership in the last 3.3 overs.
Having put such a high total, India’s bowling was too good for Afghanistan, keeping them to 144, moving into positives on the net-run rate. Sent in to bat, openers Rohit Sharma (74) and KL Rahul (69) put on a record 140-run partnership to power India to a massive 210 for 2. After the openers were dismissed, Hardik Pandya (35*) and Rishabh Pant (27*) took India past the 200-run mark.
Rashid Khan: Preparation And Mindset Remains The Same Despite Defeat To India
The spinner also said that the defeat against India would not make a big difference as his side will be raring to go for the match against New Zealand.
“I don’t think so it’s going to make a big difference to us as a team. We know India is one of the best teams, but still, the preparation remains the same, the mindset remains the same and we know the process.
“As long as we keep the process simple, we know which process we come up with against any side, so we will just try our best as a team to keep the same process, come against New Zealand in the next game and play with a fresh mind. That could be quarterfinal for us, as well,” he further said.
“If we win we know we have a good run rate so we could be the team to be in the semifinals. So just to go out there, enjoy your skills, enjoy your cricket. As long as you are enjoying I think there is more chances you could perform,” he added.
Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had impressive figures of 2 for 14 on his white-ball comeback, while Mohammed Shami picked 3 wickets as well. Ravichandran Ashwin, who last played an international game in June in the World Test Championship, finally got a game after nearly four and half months. . He was named in the playing XI after mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy developed a left calf issue.
For Afghanistan, the positive from the game was Karim Janat, who scored an unbeaten 42 off 22 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes besides taking the wicket of Rohit Sharma in his only over.
India 210 for 2 (Rohit 74, Rahul 69) beat Afghanistan 144 for 7 (Janat 42*, Nabi 35, Shami 3-32, Ashwin 2-14) by 66 runs