The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team is set to face Rahmanullah Gurbaz's Afghanistan in the first Super 8 match of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 20. India, so far undefeated in the tournament, looks to continue their winning streak against a spirited Afghan side that has won three out of their four Group matches.
Historically, India has dominated Afghanistan in T20Is, winning 7 out of 8 encounters with one match ending in no result. In T20 World Cups, India boasts a perfect 3-0 record against Afghanistan. As both teams gear up for this high-stakes clash, cricket fans around the world eagerly await the live action from the Caribbean. Watch what the experts predict in the new episode of Pitch Battle.
#INDvsAFG #T20WorldCup #CricketWorldCup #RohitSharma #RahmanullahGurbaz #Super8 #KensingtonOval #Barbados #TeamIndia #AfghanistanCricket #CricketFans #LiveCricket #CricketUpdates #WorldCup2024 #CricketMatch
~PR.152~ED.102~GR.125~HT.96~
Historically, India has dominated Afghanistan in T20Is, winning 7 out of 8 encounters with one match ending in no result. In T20 World Cups, India boasts a perfect 3-0 record against Afghanistan. As both teams gear up for this high-stakes clash, cricket fans around the world eagerly await the live action from the Caribbean. Watch what the experts predict in the new episode of Pitch Battle.
#INDvsAFG #T20WorldCup #CricketWorldCup #RohitSharma #RahmanullahGurbaz #Super8 #KensingtonOval #Barbados #TeamIndia #AfghanistanCricket #CricketFans #LiveCricket #CricketUpdates #WorldCup2024 #CricketMatch
~PR.152~ED.102~GR.125~HT.96~
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00:00Hello, everyone. You're watching Pitch Battle. I'm your host, Indra Nehru.
00:07A lot is happening in the interview. Coaches are being picked, support staff, selector.
00:15And then we are playing the T20 World Cup. We're up against Afghanistan today.
00:22First match of Super 8 of the T20 World Cup. A lot is expected.
00:28Last series for outgoing coach Rahul Dravid, we'll see a lot of changes happening after this tournament.
00:38So it's a big day for Indian cricket. And today, of course, is an important chapter.
00:43We're starting, embarking on a Super 8 journey. I don't know how it's going to pan out.
00:48Because other teams are doing exceedingly well. And T20, either team, I mean, see how a team like Pakistan could be beaten.
00:57Anything is possible under the sun. So we are joined by the discussion forward by Avinash and Shakya Mitra.
01:06Welcome, gentlemen. I'm at loss of words, actually. I mean, there's so much happening.
01:11It's actually very tough to lay your hands on one particularly. So this is okay.
01:17Avinash, what's the hot news today? If you were to spell out your top-priority news tonight, what is going to be that?
01:26Radhak, definitely, it's going to be India vs Afghanistan. But a larger chunk of the pie is being taken away by Gautam Gambhir.
01:35And now, there are rumours. I just read a report. Some VCCI official was quoted in that report saying they could also go for two coaches.
01:46W. V. Raman, who was interviewed a couple of days back, he's also into contention, given his profile and the success that he has had with the various teams he's been part of as a coach.
01:58And the experience part also seems to be playing a role. So, there is a dilemma in the Cricket Advisory Committee as of now.
02:09But I think you would be the right person to comment upon that.
02:14But as far as India vs Afghanistan game is concerned, I'm very sure Team India will be eager to beat Afghanistan because of the track record they have had against this opponent.
02:27And also the way Afghanistan played the last group stage against West Indies.
02:33I mean, they were completely bruised and battered in every department of the game where they ended up losing by a margin of 104 runs.
02:41And today, we saw early in the morning what happened with West Indies. So, yes, exactly.
02:47The Super 8 is definitely panning out to be a tournament, a competition to watch out for.
02:55My God, I mean, my heart is inside my mouth. Come to think of it, if Afghanistan can throw open a good challenge in front of the Indians, it's quite possible.
03:04Because a lot of people over the years have been talking about how Afghanistan could be a team as good as Pakistan.
03:13Shankar, your thoughts on that?
03:16Yeah, you know, India, it's a team of four, a group of four. There's Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan.
03:26So, I believe today's match will be very crucial. I know there's a big game against Australia which comes at the end.
03:32But today's game will be very crucial in taking that step towards the final four.
03:38And now from wherever, what we are seeing, I believe the other group is probably stronger than this group that is being played.
03:44So, position, placings will make a big difference in this group. So, you have to win every game.
03:49And Afghanistan is not a side you can take lightly. I understand that West Indies beat them quite comprehensively in the last game.
03:56And there are days when their spinners can be hit all over the place. Those days will come.
04:03But this is a Super 8. Every match matters. Maybe even every over matters.
04:10So, there's a lot of things which have to be taken into consideration.
04:14So, this is really the business end of the tournament. And India will want to go one better.
04:21There was a break between the 2016 and 2021 World Cups. And then in the 2022 World Cups, we reached the semi-finals.
04:28But that was far from our most convincing tournament. So, India will...
04:34So, you know, whether it's Afghanistan, whether it's Bangladesh, they don't want to take any of these sides lightly.
04:39And Afghanistan is a very mercurial team. You don't know which Afghanistan turns up.
04:46And the one which beat West Indies or the one that beat New Zealand or the one that turned up against West Indies.
04:52So, yeah, I mean, hope India is on their A-game today.
04:58I know they have to be. But Avinash, are you expecting any changes in the playing XI?
05:05I mean, we have discussed. We have done stories also on Mike Hale and how there could be a little spot for our pocket dynamite, Kuldeep Yadav.
05:16So, I would call him like that. Because he can really make a lot of difference.
05:21And really, the good thing which we are enjoying watching is the score line has gone up from 120-100.
05:28It's going to be 180-type. Which is a good news, isn't it?
05:33We watched T20 games just to see those hits to the fence, the 4s and the 6s. I mean, your thoughts on that?
05:42Yes, it's a good sign. Not just for us. In fact, even for the broadcasters, Dada.
05:50I mean, they were also hoping the game to be at least stretching full 20 overs.
05:58And both the teams end up playing full 20 overs. So, they get maximum out of it.
06:04The advertisements and everything else. So, it's good. And yes, when the 6s are being hit, the runs are being scored.
06:12Automatically, the match also… I mean, the time span of the entire match increases.
06:18And people, actually, they come out, turn out in big numbers to watch these big stars hitting the bowlers all around the park.
06:28So, definitely, there's something positive in the group stages for fans as well as for the broadcasters.
06:35Now, coming to Kuldeep Yadav, I think yesterday, in the pre-match, on the eve of the match,
06:41press conference, coach Rahul Dravid, he has definitely hinted that we are going to use either Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav.
06:51And I think, in the pecking order, Kuldeep seems to have an edge over Chahal.
06:56Because the variety that he brings to the table and the kind of form he has been over the last one year or so.
07:05And even in the ODI World Cup that we saw at home, he was one of the best spinners in the tournament.
07:11So, definitely, Kuldeep is likely to get into the playing XI today.
07:17And given the fact that we are playing against a vitriolic side like Afghanistan,
07:22a spinner, a shrewd spinner like Kuldeep Yadav will definitely add up to India's bowling arsenal.
07:31But that also begs the question, who is going to miss out from the playing XI?
07:37Whether it's going to be Akshar Patel, the scapegoat?
07:41Or will it be Ravindra Jadeja who has not done anything well?
07:46Because Akshar Patel has delivered with the bat and even he has done better with the ball as compared to Ravindra Jadeja in the league stages.
07:54So, it will also be interesting to see whether they go with the reputation of a player.
08:00Because you have a player in Ravindra Jadeja or an Akshar Patel who has had a good form recently.
08:08Alright, we will see what happens.
08:13But I don't see a lot of hope as far as changing the playing XI is concerned.
08:19Ideally, he should play a spinner.
08:21Probably, ideally, he should play a cool chap.
08:23But then you have to spend on your batting also.
08:25But, Chakya, your thoughts?
08:27Do you see any changes?
08:28Because it will be unfair to drop Shiraj as well.
08:31What makes you feel that Arshdeep is superior to Shiraj?
08:35I mean, there has to be some sort of logic into it.
08:38Otherwise, it doesn't look complete.
08:41But the Indian team, they are one good team.
08:43But then, you know, in big tournaments like the ICC events, they don't make much of a change, which is amazing.
08:49Which they do throughout the year.
08:50But by the time big tournaments are happening, they are in a state of not inertia of motion, which is a great thing.
08:59Chakya?
09:00Yeah, so, I do foresee a change.
09:05I think a frontline spinner like Kuldeep will come in.
09:10And probably, Shiraj will make way.
09:15Because we also have Hardik Pandya's bowling.
09:17But I'd like to just add a little bit on the pitch.
09:20I'd like to add a little bit since we are talking about the pitches and the surfaces.
09:25The game where today the West Indies-England match was played.
09:29That's also where we are going to be playing the game against Australia.
09:32So, this is at St. Lucia.
09:35St. Lucia has been the only surface which has been a consistently high-scoring ground throughout this whole tournament.
09:44And also, I saw a bit of today's match, the boundaries were a bit smaller.
09:50Sixes were being cleared easily.
09:52So, I am not entirely of the view that now we are going to get a succession of high-scoring matches.
10:02We will get them at St. Lucia.
10:04But then also, whether we play at Trinidad or at Guyana, the semi-final venues.
10:14Barbados has been a decent scoring ground.
10:18But I don't expect the scores to go up that much.
10:24Except in Gross Islet where today's matches happened and where a lot of the matches happened.
10:32Most of the high-scoring matches in the first round took place as well.
10:37So, I don't see too much of a strategy change.
10:42But still, I would still say that the other group is probably the stronger group.
10:49I mean, right now, India will want to…
10:53Definitely, India will want to…
10:55Qualifying may not be enough.
10:57India will want to probably qualify in first position.
11:03Maybe they should try their best to ensure it's an Australia-England semi-final.
11:07So that one of the two goes out.
11:12But yes, that's my question.
11:14You haven't answered my question.
11:15What exactly happened to Kuldeep?
11:17You are answering everything.
11:21I believe Kuldeep should play.
11:25I believe that Kuldeep should play.
11:28I mean, we are a bit harsh on Siraj.
11:32But I believe Siraj will probably go out.
11:35Alright.
11:38Abhinash, believe, become.
11:42You know, in this team, the only guy who has been really consistent and who is going through
11:47some of the stuff which has been said about him is Rishabh Pant.
11:52There are four contenders after Rohit Sharma.
11:56Probably will give up white-ball captaincy.
11:59There is Hrithik Pandya.
12:00Probably in T20, to start with.
12:02There is Hrithik Pandya.
12:03There is KL Rahul, who is not part of this team.
12:06There is Rishabh Pant.
12:07And then Jaswit Bumrah.
12:09So, hearing some of the thoughts of the…
12:13To be coach.
12:14To be named coach.
12:15Whatever.
12:16Gautam, he is of the opinion that Rishabh is the one for the future.
12:20Because, you know, if he can be inducted as a white-ball captain slowly under Rohit,
12:26big test, then probably will come up in the all-format.
12:30And he is the only cricketer who is going to play for at least 10 more years.
12:36If not more.
12:38That's what people are expecting.
12:39So, he is the one for the long-term.
12:41Your thoughts really come up.
12:43And the fact that he has already become a potential captain after that deadly escape
12:51from that accident.
12:53I think it's great news for Indian cricket.
12:56Seeing the way Rishabh has been placed.
12:59The way people are thinking about him.
13:02He is our only match winner.
13:03I mean, in fact, if you are thinking of winning the World Cup, Rishabh is going to be very,
13:07very crucial.
13:08And good thing this Indian team has done is to push him up the order.
13:12Your thoughts, Avinash, Rishabh Pant, the force, the king he is going to be in days to come?
13:21There is no doubt about it, Dada.
13:22We'll have to see.
13:26Whatever Gautam Gambhir, who is looking like a front-runner in the race, his suggestions
13:34or whatever his demands are, whether they are being met by the selectors and if they
13:38are vetted by the BCCI.
13:41So, we'll have to wait and watch.
13:43Because there were thoughts that just after the 2022 World Cup that it would have been
13:50better for India to go with a fresh face and a fresh captain soon after what happened
13:58in Melbourne, in Australia.
14:01But that didn't happen.
14:02Rohit was appointed the captain of the side.
14:06And we didn't see the team do much.
14:09I mean, more or less, we are still the same.
14:11We ended up losing a final where we hardly showed any teeth in the World Cup final.
14:17And then there was the WTC final where, again, we were toothless against the side giants
14:26like Australia.
14:27So, yes, it will be good if we invest in a captain, a young captain who will definitely
14:34learn on the job.
14:35And of course, I don't see a Hardik Pandya leading the Indian side in the T20 World Cup
14:42two years from now.
14:43So, obviously, you will have a player who can be groomed into a good, not just as a
14:51captain, but into a leader.
14:54And yes, for sure, he can lead the side for another 10 years.
14:58But I don't think so it is going to happen in Indian cricket anymore.
15:02I mean, we have seen and those days, I think, are gone.
15:06There are too many contenders for the captaincy role.
15:09And even the selectors and the BCCI, at times, it gets subdued by the aura of the superstar
15:22culture that we have had over the years.
15:27Except for MS Dhoni, we have not seen anyone leading the Indian side for a period of 10
15:33years.
15:33And I don't think so it is going to happen anymore in Indian cricket.
15:39Yes, having said that, I think if they invest into Rishabh Pant, he could be your captain
15:45for at least three to four ICC tournaments.
15:48And that is going to be a big thing.
15:51KL Rahul, I doubt.
15:53I think KL Rahul could be a better red-ball captain.
15:57Because at least his place there is intact.
16:00But in white-ball, I still don't see him, at least in the T20 eyes.
16:06Obviously, he can be a part of the ODI side.
16:11We are also looking at a one-captain for all formats.
16:15That is also true.
16:16Yeah, exactly.
16:17Exactly.
16:20Because there were suggestions in the past.
16:22And even Virat also thought, you know, there could be two white-ball captains.
16:26BCCI believes that a person who is playing all formats, technically, he should be captain
16:31in all formats.
16:32And this is not only Saurav Ganguly who once told me that he was a BCCI president.
16:37I mean, we have a very conventional approach.
16:41We thought we'd speak about a lot of things, like having different coaches for different
16:45formats.
16:45And usually, we stick to the traditional…
16:49Avinash, you know, that traditional thing of sticking to one man, one boss.
16:56Multiple bosses.
16:57That will probably spoil the show.
17:00It's just a thought.
17:01Which is there inside.
17:04We follow one order.
17:05You know, it's like one country, one boss.
17:08Like that.
17:11Yes, exactly.
17:12Up to an extent, that is true.
17:13I mean, too many heads spoil the broth.
17:16And it's completely true with the Indian cricket.
17:20And we have seen over the years.
17:22I mean, take for example, what happened during the Greg Chappell's era.
17:27Yes, he was the boss.
17:28But there were others in the team who were not happy with the way that boss was functioning.
17:33Because there were legends of the game who also understood the game.
17:37I mean, I can say much better than Greg Chappell.
17:42Because Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar.
17:48They were all…
17:49I mean, they all are not just legendary players.
17:52They also had the foresightedness.
17:54And we saw them serving the game even after retiring.
17:58And they continue to do so.
18:00So, yes, one head and one person taking control of the entire team truly makes sense.
18:08Because, I mean, especially in the Asian or subcontinental teams, if we can talk about.
18:15Multiple captaincy format is not suited.
18:18And it is a bane, not a boon.
18:24It is.
18:25But, you know, talking about one man, we are really keen to see him coming back to his elements.
18:32And he has made a lot of effort to be there in that position.
18:36Our opener, Mr. Virat Kohli.
18:39He has not scored that many runs.
18:41He has got out while chasing.
18:44It was the widest deliveries in a couple of matches.
18:48Last couple of matches, I think, we have played.
18:50One was a wash-out against Canada.
18:53But Virat Kohli is the man we are looking out for tonight.
18:57And how he is going to perform.
18:59He is a big match player.
19:01We hear about it all the time.
19:03And then, I can't forget what Rohit Sharma did against Afghanistan.
19:06At that World Cup game.
19:07He came to the Sherpa Club.
19:09He visits our staff.
19:11So, we can't forget.
19:14It was absolutely brilliant.
19:16He sort of had a feast on the Afghanistan players.
19:21He didn't allow them to settle down at all.
19:24They can really fight hard.
19:24Let me tell you that.
19:25But I am reminded of that series which happened at home.
19:30Afghan vs India.
19:32And India actually had to really struggle to win that series.
19:37Saki, do you remember that series we had?
19:40Where Virat and Rohit announced,
19:42Well, I am not going to go out.
19:44We are not going to go out.
19:45We are going to play.
19:45We are going to bet.
19:46No matter what.
19:48If you can tell us that phase.
19:49And then, when Afghanistan team has gone from strength to strength.
19:54Virat Kohli is going to be our guy tonight.
19:56Hopefully, your thoughts?
19:59Yeah, I think it's definitely a relief that we are not playing at New York.
20:04Because that gave a lot of trouble to at least these two very esteemed cricketers.
20:10Virat and Rohit.
20:11But I think Virat Kohli is an absolutely class player.
20:14You can't write him off on the basis of three innings played on a surface.
20:18Like the one where those matches were being played.
20:21I am sure he will come good today.
20:24He has always reveled in the World Cups.
20:27As has Rohit Sharma.
20:28They are both cricketers who always excel on the big stage.
20:33And I am sure Virat Kohli will repay the faith that the management has had.
20:42And everyone has had to play him as an opening batter.
20:45And I see a big one coming from him today.
20:50And every match matters from here.
20:52So, this is an important match.
20:54Just like every match from here is.
20:57And I see Virat Kohli doing quite well today.
21:03And yeah, I don't know the status of some of the other players.
21:08I mean, how much more longer will they continue having faith in Shivam Dubey?
21:13I know that Rinku Singh is still with the squad.
21:16But let's see what they do with that.
21:25Alright, we will see what they do with that.
21:27But Virat Kohli is one man.
21:29You are always looking to see him scoring runs.
21:31Some even suggested he could come down to the order and anchor the innings.
21:38But we saw what Phil Sol did the other night.
21:42It was the other night only.
21:46And we have seen what some of the other teams are doing.
21:51I mean, stroke-making ability.
21:56Either you have it or you don't have it.
21:57But when you talk about this format and we talk about Virat Kohli.
22:03Avinash, I want to know from your thoughts on Virat Kohli.
22:07You see him continuing after the 2021-20.
22:11He is of course going to continue.
22:13Problem here in Indian cricket is that as long as you are playing for India,
22:18your IPL contracts are also in a very good…
22:22You know, I mean, you are in a good position.
22:23But Virat has crossed that stage, like Avinash Dhoni.
22:27You don't have to play international cricket.
22:29At least he can make way for youngsters after this tournament.
22:32Your thoughts, Avinash?
22:35Definitely.
22:36He will have to bite a bitter pill.
22:38I mean, if he doesn't, then the selectors will have to show some spine and call the shots.
22:45I mean, they will have to take a hard call.
22:48I mean, Virat Kohli has been serving Indian cricket for quite long.
22:51But it is time for him to pass on the baton and move forward.
22:56And it will be not just good for Virat Kohli, but also for Indian cricket and vice versa.
23:03So, definitely, I do see him…
23:06I mean, he can go an MS Dhoni way.
23:08He will not be a part of the side.
23:12But he would still not announce his official retirement the way his predecessors have done.
23:19So that his IPL contract is still intact.
23:22And maybe a couple of bilateral tournaments also.
23:26Because he is always…
23:27I mean, he has done that, served Indian cricket so well.
23:32So, definitely, the selectors or the bosses at the BCCI might give him a couple of
23:41tournaments, a series or a bilateral couple of matches in a series to stay relevant and
23:48keep his IPL contract also intact.
23:53But definitely, I do not…
23:55If you are not going to be a part of the side in the next T20 World Cup,
24:01then definitely, you are eating up a spot and creating…
24:06I mean, it's not going to be beneficial for Indian cricket.
24:10So, it is time for the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both to now keep the team
24:20before their personal interests.
24:22And it will be…
24:25We expect it from stalwarts like Virat Kohli, who will definitely toe the lines of their
24:34predecessors like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni.
24:38Because they have all had longer careers.
24:41But at one point of time, they also understood the fact that it is time we make way for the
24:46youngsters.
24:47And at the age that they are in, definitely, they will have to prolong their test career
24:53if they wish to play a few more years and serve the Indian cricket.
24:59So, they will have to opt out of a format and keep playing in the red-ball format.
25:07That's my belief.
25:10Yeah.
25:10Alright.
25:11I mean, in my opinion, we should just focus on white-ball cricket.
25:14Nothing else.
25:15I beg your pardon.
25:17On red-ball…
25:18Yeah.
25:19You want to say something, Shakya?
25:21Yeah, yeah.
25:22Just to add to what Avinash is saying, that I think both these two men, Rohit and Virat,
25:28should absolutely give way from T20.
25:32Because we have the next T20 World Cup in 2026.
25:37We need two years.
25:38We need two years to prepare new players coming in and give them that chance in that format.
25:44If you are going to bring in Abhishek Sharma, if you are going to bring in Riyan Parag,
25:48if you are going to bring in some bowlers, maybe Mayank Yadav…
25:51Ravi Bishnoi wasn't picked for this World Cup.
25:54But there are going to be other new players coming in.
25:57And Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag are the two obvious names on the basis of the kind
26:02of tournament they had in the IPL.
26:04But you need to give these guys two years.
26:07I mean, you can't be saying Abhishek Sharma cannot have a great IPL a month before the
26:15T20 World Cup.
26:16And you say that, oh, why is he not playing?
26:18The fact of the matter is, you don't give him those games.
26:21You haven't seen how he plays in international conditions.
26:24You don't see how they play on different pitches.
26:26So, that is why, if we are going to build a new T20 side, we need to give them one and
26:31a half, two years for those players to get settled, to play on different pitches, to
26:36play different kind of bowling attacks.
26:39And if you are playing bowlers, the kind of different kind of batters to bowl to.
26:45So, you need to give youngsters or the new players that opportunity to test themselves
26:52in different conditions.
26:55Also, we should not forget the fact that just two years after the next T20 World Cup, we
27:01will also be having an Olympics in Los Angeles.
27:04And most of the players that we are seeing in the current World Cup are not going to
27:12be part of that Olympic side, for sure.
27:16Not just in Indian cricket, we are not going to see the likes of Charles Butler, Mitchell
27:21Marsh, Amrit Naukias, Kagiso Rabada.
27:26So, every team will have to invest into youngsters now, so that they start building a team for
27:32not just for 2026 World Cup, but also for the Olympics.
27:36Because cricket is going to be, and the way we have seen some of these associate nations
27:42play, especially if you talk about US.
27:45So, four years down the line, they are going to give all the teams a run for their money.
27:52And you will have to be ready for them.
27:56True.
27:57I mean, this is so relevant.
27:59Because we are entering a new phase.
28:02And cricket has changed so much.
28:03Yesterday, guys, I was with Dhruv Jhurel.
28:07He was in the nets.
28:08So, I was trying to get him out and all that.
28:12I mean, how dare do I do that?
28:15But I was still trying to do that.
28:16And let me tell you, these guys, Dhruv Jhurel is not even part of the team.
28:22You see, he is practising with white ball.
28:25Or he will be travelling through Zimbabwe with the Indian team.
28:28Then he will coach.
28:30But they are practising.
28:31It's the Indian team staying there.
28:34They are not going back.
28:35Because it starts with the Ranji Trophy, the Indian Trophy and all that.
28:40But they are going with that.
28:42Anytime you get a call, they are all ready.
28:46Which is amazing.
28:47These guys are so…
28:49And they are not…
28:50Completely the same.
28:51They may not be part of the Indian team.
28:55But they are all ready.
28:57Which is what this current generation…
28:59I think they will score more than any generation I have seen.
29:03They are always ready.
29:06And they will have to be, Dada.
29:08Because we have seen the game evolving so much.
29:11And there is not much of time.
29:12And these youngsters also understand it pretty well that they won't get too many chances
29:20to prove their mettle and secure a spot in the side.
29:24We have seen in the past that the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli.
29:31They had at least 3-4 years before they proved their mettle.
29:37Rohit Sharma, if we talk about, he became a great…
29:41Almost 5-7 years after making his debut.
29:46Everybody had the belief in him.
29:48He had that talent and the potential.
29:50But at least 3-4 years, it took him to prove and rise to the expectations.
30:00When he actually started opening for the Indian side.
30:03And that match against Australia at Chinna Swamy where he scored the 200.
30:10So, everybody understands it's not easy.
30:14But times have changed.
30:16So, you are not going to get even 10 matches on the trot to prove what you are capable
30:23of or what your potential is.
30:25So, you are going to have a limited amount of chances.
30:28And at least in those limited chances that you get, you will have to lap it up and prove
30:35what you are made up of and your mettle.
30:37And only then the captain, the team management and the selectors are going to show faith
30:43in you.
30:44True.
30:46I mean, it's very competitive.
30:49And it's like a huge bunch of players waiting in the wings.
30:54But tonight, we have Afghanistan versus India versus Afghanistan, of course.
31:00And when it's India, you can't leave out Jaswit Bumrah.
31:04Shakya, your thoughts on, before we wrap up the show, another Jaswit Bumrah special we
31:11can expect tonight?
31:13I think Jaswit Bumrah is going to be our main man if we have to go and end our trophy drought.
31:22I think he is the person who's going to...
31:24He is the difference maker.
31:25He is the difference maker.
31:26And I think our batting may be on par with some of the other teams.
31:33But if we have an advantage over the other teams, it's our bowling.
31:38And Jaswit Bumrah gives you those advantages.
31:43So I would say that Jaswit Bumrah is very, very important towards India's chances of
31:49going all the way in this tournament.
31:51And he's just a really, really special bowler.
31:55He wasn't there in the last T20 World Cup.
31:58And we saw what happened.
31:59But I feel Jaswit Bumrah is going to be...
32:05Yeah, he's just our main man.
32:07The person who's going to make the difference in where we finish in this tournament is going
32:11to be Jaswit Bumrah.
32:13Also, as for the thoughts on the tournament, I think India has to be fearless.
32:18I think we're seeing with England and Australia and West Indies and everyone, they're all
32:23playing a very fearless brand of cricket.
32:26And India can't be scared when they come up against these teams.
32:29They have to believe if they make...
32:32I'm scared.
32:33I'm scared when we're up against Australia.
32:36I don't know.
32:40Even England and West Indies are pretty good.
32:42West Indies' bowling is not great.
32:45But we have to believe.
32:47We need to believe that we can win.
32:49We need to get into a final and believe that we can win.
32:52So what if Australia has won so many tournaments?
32:55And so what if Australia has a winning mentality?
32:57We need to believe we are better than them and we can beat them.
33:00That is what I hope I see from the team.
33:03I mean, but Avinash, your thoughts on Australia.
33:09I mean, how to get rid of Australia?
33:11I mean, they are on our back forever.
33:14I mean, how do we get them off of our back?
33:19I mean, this is one team we should be because they have beaten us in Test Championship final,
33:24World Cup final.
33:26And I'm really...
33:27When you think about Australia, I'm not comfortable.
33:30Something happens to our team when we see that yellow jersey.
33:34Can you tell us?
33:36I'm not too worried about playing Australia in any game except for a final.
33:42So if India are playing Australia in the final, there's a concern.
33:46And if they are not playing Australia in a final match, I hardly have any problems or concerns.
33:54India plays much better in a league stage or in a group stage
34:00or in a Super 6 or a Super 8 stage against Australia.
34:04But it becomes a different ballgame altogether when they are facing them in a final of sorts.
34:11So, definitely.
34:12And we have seen it in the past as well.
34:14Just look at the performance of the Indian side in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
34:19I mean, we completely outclassed them in that Virat Kohli special at Mohali.
34:23It was one of the best knocks of Virat Kohli you will ever see while chasing.
34:30And you have the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Stark and James Faulkner.
34:37All being battered by Virat Kohli.
34:40So, as far as India and as long as India plays against Australia in the group stages,
34:47I don't have any problem.
34:49The monkey is on the back only when India plays against Australia in an ICC event final.
34:58I didn't want to use that word actually.
35:00I kept saying, off our back, off our back, whatever.
35:03But we have landed in a lot of problems in the past with that word.
35:08But yeah, cricket is an amazing sport.
35:11Just enjoy the kind of spirit these guys push into the game.
35:20It makes it so special, the way we see it today.
35:23And it's getting so extremely competitive.
35:25And tonight is one such event that we will see in India.
35:28Probably, they will end the thing on a high.
35:32And thanks, Shakya.
35:34Thanks, Avinash, for coming.
35:36And we should not forget the fact, Radha, that when these two teams last played a T20I game,
35:41it was a double super-over game.
35:42So, a high-scoring game which also culminated into two back-to-back super-overs.
35:46So, obviously, Indians cannot take this Afghan side lightly.
35:50Yes, there was a Virat Kohli in that game as well who was out for a duck.
35:56And there was a Rohit Sharma who scored a phenomenal century.
35:58He is 5th of his T20I career.
36:01But still, Afghans ended up chasing equally.
36:06And they cannot be taken lightly even tonight.
36:11I am sure the boys are not taking them lightly.
36:14It will be a good, good contest.
36:17It will be a battle of the ball, hopefully, for the first time in India.
36:20Otherwise, it's been the bowlers who have been rooting in the roost.
36:24On that note, thanks.
36:26Avinash, Shakya, coming on to pitch battle.
36:28Sharing your thoughts.
36:29We will be back, hopefully, with the India win tomorrow.
36:32And team enjoying T20 World Cup.
36:35Thanks for watching.
36:41you