Afghanistan captain Zadran outlines plans to counter Bumrah and Sooryavanshi ahead of India T20I series

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah (Image credit: Agencies)

Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran says his team has made specific plans to deal with Jasprit Bumrah in Sunday's opening T20I against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Bumrah is set to return to international cricket after missing matches due to a left knee injury. His return gives India another major option with the ball, but Zadran said Afghanistan will not make things complicated while facing the star pacer. "If you look at Jasprit Bumrah, he is one of the best, and he is my favourite fast bowler. We as a group never think things in a complicated way for ourselves. So we have a very good plan for him, and we just thought about him, how to play against him, and hopefully we are going to play better cricket against Jasprit Bumrah or the Indian Cricket Team," Zadran told reporters in a press conference on Saturday.

Sooryavanshi also on Afghanistan's radar

Afghanistan have also prepared for India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The Afghanistan team has used information from players who have faced the left-handed opener in the IPL. Zadran said they have also studied videos of Sooryavanshi before the series. "He is an amazing talent. Recently, he played great cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and he has been performing well at a different level in cricket events. We have thought about him, and we have gained that knowledge from those guys who have played against him in the IPL. “We have already watched his videos, and we just try to keep it very simple for ourselves, just to execute the right plans at the right time against him. We are just trying to make things simple for us, not complicated," he stated.

Zadran takes over T20I captaincy

Zadran has taken over the T20I captaincy from Rashid Khan. He believes their strong relationship will help Afghanistan make a fresh start after their early exit from the T20 World Cup. The new captain also feels Afghanistan's experience of playing in India will be useful. "I would say, I was destined to have a captain like Rashid Khan. Alongside him, we had better communication, better understanding between us. When he was a captain, I was helping him as a vice-captain, and the understanding is there. “Yes, we have played enough cricket here in India; we all know the conditions, how to play, how to adjust ourselves, and we have played a series here against India, and the T20 World Cup, and the 50-over World Cup as well. We know the conditions really well, and how to play. We just need to execute the plan really well, according to the opposition, and that's it."

Afghanistan eye first series win over India

Afghanistan are yet to beat India in a bilateral T20I series and Zadran is hoping his side can change that this time.

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He said the key will be to execute their plans properly and focus on the process instead of worrying about the result. "Yes, we have played better cricket against India. In 2024, we had two super overs against them in the T20I series in Bengaluru. “At the ICC events, we have played better cricket against them. As you mentioned, we have never beaten them. Hopefully, we are going to play a good series, win a game, and win a series from them. But it's all about execution of the plan and giving your 100 percent. “It’s about trying to make things easy for ourselves, not complicated. Yes, we just try to give 100 percent. Don't think about the result; just try to think about the process, and how we are going to deliver. I am sure we will have a better series."

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