IND vs AFG: Jonathan Trott Reveals How He Will Stop Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma From Toying With Afghanistan Bowlers

Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott discussed the challenge posed by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming three-match T20I series. Jonathan Trott emphasized the strength of the Indian side, labeling Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as world-class players.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have returned to the Indian squad for the Afghanistan series after a 14-month absence from the format. The duo was last seen in T20Is during the Indian team’s loss to the England team in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022.

The Rohit Sharma-led team is set to compete against Afghanistan in the three-match T20I series, commencing on Thursday, January 11, in Mohali. The subsequent two matches are scheduled for January 14 in Indore and the final T20I in Bengaluru on January 17.

Any Side That India Selects Is Strong – Jonathan Trott

In a conversation with Jio Cinema, Jonathan Trott emphasized the importance of executing plans effectively when facing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Trott said the team is fortunate to have players with IPL experience against these stalwarts.

“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,” Trott told JioCinema.

Kohli has showcased consistent batting form in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL). The 35-year-old returned to his prime in the previous edition. He amassed 639 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of over 53, including two centuries and six half-centuries.

On the other hand, Rohit has encountered difficulties in the lucrative tournament. In the last season, the 36-year-old scored 332 runs with an average of 20.75, featuring two half-centuries. He has had an average below 30 for the past seven seasons of the tournament.

Afghanistan Is Known For T20s – Jonathan Trott

Jonathan Trott emphasized the need to build a squad that can compete with world champions, adapting effectively without over-reliance on spin bowling for 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,” Trott added.

Rashid Khan will miss the T20I series against India due to a persistent lower-back injury. Rashid underwent surgery in November 2023. He was previously sidelined from international duties against the UAE and the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.

Also read: UAE vs AFG: Jonathan Trott To Continue As Afghanistan Head Coach After Successful CWC Campaign