IND vs AFG 2018: It has been a Wonderful Journey for Afghanistan but Our Experience Matters - Dinesh Karthik

Team India wicket-keeper, Dinesh Karthik has heaped praises on Afghanistan who are all set to make their Test debut against India at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru from 14^th June.

Karthik hailed them for a “beautiful journey” in international cricket so far which has given them the green signal to take part in Tests. Despite praising the Afghans. Karthik did not hold back giving a sign of warning to the newcomers led by an able Asghar Stanikzai.

Karthik said the experience of the Indian players is much more than their Afghan compatriots. He mentioned young chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav’s name who had played double the number of four-day matches which the Afghan spinners have played combined.

“Clearly all their spinners put together wouldn’t have played that many matches that (a young) Kuldeep Yadav (24 first-class matches) would have played in four-day cricket,” Karthik stated ahead of the historic Test between the two Asian teams.

Afghans have a team to pose a threat or two. However, given India’s experience, it will be a humongous task for Afghans to run the Indians close.

Factually Karthik wasn’t wrong, as Kuldeep has played 24 first-class matches including a couple of Tests. His appearances in first-class cricket are 13 more than the 11 four day games the three Afghan specialist spinners have played in their career. Zahir Khan has played seven matches, while Rashid has played four.

Karthik lauded Afghanistan following their historic achievement. They have done quite well in the limited-overs format. However, Karthik politely reminded Stanikzai that their spinners are way ahead than a Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur Rahman.

After a 3-0 series victory against Bangladesh in the T20I series, Afghan skipper, Asghar STanikzai had claimed they had better spinners than India. However, Karthik squashed those claims.

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“I don’t know what the person (Stanikzhai) had said, but you have got to understand that we have got a lot of experience, not only in Test match cricket but a lot of domestic cricket, a lot of four-day matches.”

The wicket-keeper who has been brought in as a replacement for Wriddhiman Saha said anything could not replace the value which experience brings.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jade have a whopping 476 Test wickets between them. While Ashiwn has bagged 311 Test wickets, Jadeja has chipped in with 165.

“Experience at the end of the day has a lot of value as you saw with CSK in IPL. I am very sure that they (Afghanistan) would be better bowlers by the start of the next Test match than what they are now,” Karthik said.

He found no reason that why the Afghanistan spinners cannot replicate their form in Tests.

“The kind of improvement they have shown in white ball cricket has been phenomenal. There is no reason why they can’t do it in red ball cricket. But I would say our spinners have a lot of experience, and I would say experience can’t be easily bought. I am sure their players will also vouch for that.”

Karthik praised the efforts of Afghanistan players especially given the fact they had practised in a situation of turmoil. The war-hit country doesn’t have many cricketing facilities. India has helped them with two adopted home stadiums in Dehradun and Noida.

They have always supported them endlessly and it due to the efforts of BCCI that Afghanistan can play a Test against the No 1 team in the world.

“Oh! It’s a beautiful journey, isn’t it? It’s been a highlight for ICC to have a Test nation in Afghanistan. Not many people knew Afghanistan played cricket. We all know what a tough place it is and the kind of turmoil they go through and despite that, they are able to inspire people with their performances,” Karthik said.

“You have to give them credit. They are trying to beat all the odds with little infrastructure that they have got. I hope they get to play a lot of Test cricket. In two years, they have had household names (like Rashid). Not only are they competing in shorter formats but are also winning series (Bangladesh),” the 33-year old Tamil Nadu lad commented.

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