'Little things that we need to get better' - Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott looks forward to beating India in ongoing T20 series

Jonathan Trott, the former England batter and current head coach of Afghanistan, expressed optimism despite his team's six-wicket defeat against India in the first T20I on Thursday. Trott, who has been at the helm of Afghanistan's coaching setup for nearly two years, believes his team possesses the necessary firepower to challenge and defeat a star-studded Indian side.

Reflecting on the challenging playing conditions, with temperatures dropping to nearly six degrees, Trott acknowledged the significant role dew played in the game. The conditions reminded him of 'April in England and county cricket.' However, he emphasised the importance of sticking to the basics as the key to taming formidable opponents like India.

“There are little things that we need to get better at if we want to compete with the likes of India. And going forward, with one eye slightly on the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, I believe in these guys. I firmly believe that when you come to India, we can win,” Trott said.

In light of the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, Trott expressed his unwavering belief in the Afghan players and their potential to secure victories in India. “I think it’s a combination of both. We were 33 without loss in the powerplay, and a bit of credit has to go to India for the way they bowled. But then, we lost a wicket just before drinks and were at 57 for three," he said.

“So, we didn’t have a great four overs after that, but we scored 110 in the last ten overs, which shows what can be achieved when the guys get together. There are good things to take with us, and there are certainly things we need to work on. We were just a little bit short with the bat—just 20 to 25 runs. We had a good start, and we had an opportunity," he further added.

“India was in a similar position," says Jonathan Trott

Analysing India's performance, Trott drew parallels with Afghanistan's position early in the match when India lost two quick wickets. He praised India for their recovery, especially Shivam Dube's role in leading a fightback. Looking ahead to the next game in Indore, Trott emphasised the importance of making it as tough as possible for India and learning from the experiences of the series opener.

“India was in a similar position, having lost two wickets in the powerplay, and then they played well. We need to look at what we can do better in the next game in Indore, where we make it as tough as possible, or not possible at all”, says Trott.

With Afghanistan trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, Trott expressed that there is a lot at stake for the team in the upcoming matches, highlighting the determination to bounce back and compete fiercely against the formidable Indian side.