“My intestine feeling says that we’ll have a brand new T20 World Cup winner this time, and it is going to be Afghanistan. If the wicket in Trinidad for the primary semifinal is gradual, I might price them as favourites to win in opposition to South Africa as they’ve a superb spin assault and the Proteas might be weak in opposition to high quality spin,” Rajput, who was the pinnacle coach of Afghanistan from 2017 to 2018, advised TOI.
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Rajput, who’s presently teaching UAE, has additionally had stints with India and Zimbabwe.A former India opener who performed two Exams and 4 ODIs, Rajput might see a pointy enchancment in Afghanistan’s recreation within the final couple of years.
“Earlier than this T20 World Cup started, I had predicted that Afghanistan would upset massive groups. They narrowly missed out on just a few wins within the 50-over World Cup in India final 12 months, failing to shut video games out. Nevertheless, this 12 months, they’re enjoying brilliantly. You’ll be able to see the intent of their physique language. They only wish to do effectively. On the gradual, turning wickets of the West Indies, their sensible bowling is sweet sufficient to defend no matter scores their batters put up,” the 62-year-old Mumbaikar, who was coach of the MS Dhoni-led Indian crew that was topped World T20 champs within the inaugural version in 2007 in South Africa, mentioned.
As a budding cricketing nation, Afghanistan gained Check standing again in 2017 when Rajput was in cost, however former England batsman Jonathan Trott has taken the rising Asian cricketing energy to a brand new degree.
“Trott and Dwayne Bravo (the previous West Indies allrounder is Afghanistan’s bowling coach for this T20 World Cup) have executed an excellent job. The advantage of Afghanistan’s gamers is that they’re very eager to study. They’ve improved massively from after I was with them.
“Earlier, their batters would simply look to smash the ball anyhow, however they’ve now learnt the artwork of constructing an innings. Earlier, their bowling was closely depending on their spinners. Now, whereas they nonetheless have nice spinners, they’ve acquired two very nice quick bowlers in Naveen-ulHaq and Fazalhaq Farooqi,” Rajput analysed.
Afghanistan’s 21-run win over Australia at Kingstown within the earlier ‘Tremendous 8s’ recreation had left the cricketing world shocked, however Rajput wasn’t shocked.
“I used to be certain that this was coming as a result of that they had nearly crushed Australia in Mumbai, earlier than a Glenn Maxwell particular and some dropped catches noticed Australia via,” Rajput mentioned.
