India head coach Gautam Gambhir will push for an aggressive approach and will not allow the opposition to take the initiative in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, feels former batter Ajay Jadeja. India host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series beginning in Chennai from September 19, to be followed by three T20Is. “It is very clear, his approach is aggressive. One thing is sure, there will never be a dull moment with him around, he will always try something. He will do what he believes,” Jadeja told reporters when asked about the Indian team’s approach under Gambhir during the upcoming series.

“He (Gambhir) will not be somebody who will sit back and let things flow. He will be out there, he will try things like we saw Suryakumar Yadav becoming captain suddenly. I am looking forward to the excitement we are going to see this year.”

The 53-year-old Jadeja, who’s mostly remembered as a top ODI batter with 5359 runs from 196 matches at an average of 37.47, was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Cricket Association of Bengal’s annual awards function.

Asked whether he will offer suggestions to Gambhir, Jadeja said, “I hope he does not take suggestions. The reason why he is there is because of what he did and how he looks at it.

“I hope he does not take anybody’s advice and change his approach because what has made you who you are is something that you should believe in and stick to. He can always get better.” Jadeja served as mentor of the Afghanistan team during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Bangladesh are coming after a historic Test series win in Pakistan but Jadeja said India is a “far superior” team.

“Any team which has come just after winning will always think they can win. But there is a difference between the Pakistan team at the moment with the India cricket team. The Indian team is a far superior team.

“But yes, from their (Bangladesh’s) point of view, they will believe that since they have beaten Pakistan, why cannot they (beat India). But we are a better side, but they will definitely be a handful. They play spin well, they bowl spin, so conditions suit.” Asked about the Indian team’s prospects in the upcoming Test tour of Australia beginning in November, Jadeja said, “November is far off but we have done well in Australia in the past. Why should we not think that we will do it again.

“We should only get better from there,” he added.

Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of cricket, beating Australia by 21 runs in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. This was their first win of over Australia in any format, having narrowly lost out to them in the ODI World Cup last year in India. The win also keeps Afghanistan afloat in the race to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. Afghanistan have pulled off some huge results over the years, but after wins over New Zealand and Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup, it is safe to say that they are knocking on the door to become a cricketing powerhouse.

Former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja, who was the mentor of the team during the ODI World Cup last year, had claimed that Afghanistan will become a big team the moment they beat a top cricketing nation.

A video of the same has resurfaced after Afghanistan’s famous win over Australia.

“Some of the participating teams have been playing cricket for over 100 years. But, Afghanistan is a young cricketing nation with around 15-20 years of experience. So, all this is part of the journey. During the 2019 World Cup, both India and Pakistan survived an upset against Afghanistan by the barest of margins. You are saying today that they (Afghanistan) are a small team. But, the day they beat a big team, they will also become a big team,” Jadeja had said during the ODI World Cup last year in India.

Jis Din Gira Denge, Us Din Ye (Afghanistan) Badi Team ho jaegi

New Zealand 2024 T20 WC

Pakistan 2023 WC

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Sri Lanka 2023 WC@ACBofficials many more to come#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7CchESeFTB

— Ajay Jadeja (@AjayJadeja171) June 15, 2024

After the match, even Australia captain Mitchell Marsh admitted Afghanistan “outplayed us” on a night when his side dropped five catches. 

“They’re a very good cricket team who play against the best all the time and they have improved a hell of a lot over the last few years,” said Marsh. 

“We know certainly in these conditions that they are a big danger team. Like I said before, they outplayed us tonight and credit to them.”

With one match to play in the Super Eights, Afghanistan and Australia have two points each while India top the group with four. 

Afghanistan will face winless Bangladesh in their final game in the Super Eights in Kingstown, St Vincent while Australia, who currently occupy second spot in the group on the basis of run rate, will likely need to beat India in St Lucia to secure a place in the semi-finals.

(With AFP Inputs)

Afghanistan players with team’s mentor Ajay Jadeja during a practice session on the eve of their ICC Men’s World Cup ODI cricket match against the Netherlands, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, on Nov. 2, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Afghanistan’s seminal performance in the ongoing World Cup that helped them toss away the ‘minnows’ tag has a lot to do with the appointment of Ajay Jadeja as their mentor, reckons head coach Jonathan Trott.

The Afghans have toppled defending champions England, former champions Pakistan and Bangladesh to garner six points in the tournament so far.

It is a position from which they can dream of a place in the World Cup semifinals and a Champions Trophy berth in 2025.

Trott lavished praise on Jadeja for keeping the team in high spirits.

“I think Ajay brings a lot of experience having played a lot of cricket in India. He’s always a good sounding board with regards to conditions, venues and also the other subcontinent teams that we’ve played against,” Trott said in the pre-match press meet here on November 2.

The former England batsman said having Jadeja on the board during a high-pressure event made his job a bit easier.

“As for myself as a coach…as a good sounding board with decision making and sort of planning going forward for each game.

“It (Jadeja’s presence) is also another good set of eyes on the players to see how they’re preparing for the matches and how their careers and talent is being utilised,” added Trott.

Afghanistan might view Lucknow, the venue of their next match against Netherlands, as their ‘home ground’ after having been based here some years back.

But Trott dismissed the theory of ‘home advantage’ because of the team’s prior experience at the venue.

Trott said the pitch has been re-laid at the Ekana stadium and that should nullify such reasons.

“I think when it comes to home ground advantage, I think they (Afghanistan) have good experience of playing here. But in World Cup matches, they’ve relaid the pitch. So, it’s a little bit different to how it has been in the past. I don’t think (previous) experience plays that bigger role,” said Trott.

However, Trott said the experience of playing against bigger teams will stand them in good stead.

“But we’ve won against big sides. the big Test playing nations. So, that’s good. I think tomorrow’s challenge is going to be playing against a very good Dutch side who are in form and that’s going to be the challenge for us, so very excited for it.”