Asia Cup 2018: India Should Learn a Lot from Afghanistan Game - Zaheer Khan

The dead rubber between India and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2018 turned out as the game to remember for ages. Meanwhile, the former Indian bowler, Zaheer Khan feels there are a lot of things to learn from the game for Indians against Afghanistan.

However, Zaheer has asked the team management to give a settled position for the individual player to do better in coming games as well. Zaheer strongly believes opening the innings with Ambati Rayudu isn’t a great move.

Set batsman should finish the game – Zaheer Khan

The southpaw explained Ambati Rayudu is a perfect middle-order batsman who can get away from the spinner’s threat. He added the batsmen, who settled in the crease needs to finish the game without any further hiccups.

He doesn’t want Ambati Rayudu’s position to get shifted, especially, with Rashid Khan bowling in the middle overs. Further, he isn’t impressed with KL Rahul playing aggressively after losing his partner.

”The big message is once you are in the game, you need to have the adaptability to change the gears. I think that was missing in the innings against Afghanistan. Once you start the game in middle overs when Rashid Khan comes into play, you should get experienced campaigner like Ambati Rayudu, who was made to open in that game,” Zaheer Khan said to Cricbuzz.

Once Rayudu was out, KL Rahul continued in the same the gear. It is the important situation to adapt the conditions with the ball getting older. It is the awareness and a lesson to learn. The guys who are in the middle and set should not leave the job for a new batsman to finish the game. If you are in, you need to make it count,” Zaheer Khan inferred.

However, it seems like Zaheer Khan has a valid point in his kitty. With India preparing for the 2019 World Cup, they should have kept Ambati Rayudu stick to his position. Meanwhile, KL Rahul missed a glorious chance.