'They Weren't a Top Side Few Years Back, But...': Great Opportunity for 'Tough' Afghanistan to Propel Against India

After beating Afghanistan in freezing Mohali, Team India moves to the heart of the nation – Madhya Pradesh – with an aim to clinch their last bilateral series before the T20 World Cup in the West. The stage is set at Indore’s Holkar Stadium where India will lock horns with the Afghan guests in the second T20I on Sunday evening. Star performer of the series opener, Shivam Dube is also raring to against Afghanistan, which in his opinion is a ‘tough side’ in the shortest format.

Addressing the pre-match presser on the eve of the second encounter in Indore, Dube said the visitors have a great opportunity to prove their mettle against a strong T20 side like India.

“Afghanistan is a tough team when it comes to T20Is as all of its players play in (domestic T20) leagues. It’s a good opportunity for the side to express itself in front of a top team (like India), and it has been doing well,” he said.

“Afghanistan was not a top side in international cricket a few years back. But, thanks to these leagues its players have come out on top nowadays,” he added.

Dube’s performance was the highlight of the opening clash in Mohali, where he contributed with the ball with figures of one for nine, followed by a match-winning knock of 40-ball 60 not out, earning him the Man of the Match award.

Although India were struggling at 28 for two when he arrived at the crease while chasing a target of 159, he revealed that he planned to stick to what he could do by utilising his skills.

“It’s difficult when things don’t go your way, and you don’t think about things you cannot do at that time. So, I thought about what I have done in the past would be better. I have practised and processed to be better both physically and mentally, besides working on my skills,” he added.

Holkar Stadium generally produces batting-friendly tracks with two of the three T20Is here being won by the sides batting first whereas the average batting-first score is 209. While Dube admitted that bowling would be difficult on this pitch, he felt that the team that bowls better can win.

“It’s a batting-friendly wicket. So, it would be tough for the bowlers. But, the team that bowls well on this track is likely to emerge victorious,” he signed off.