"That's where the competition is" - Robin Uthappa on Afghanistan's bowling posing a threat to India at 2024 T20 World Cup
Former cricketer Robin Uthappa stated Afghanistan's bowling and India's batting would dictate the course of the match of the upcoming Super 8 match between the two Asian nations at the 2024 T20 World Cup. He opined that the only way Afghanistan can win the game is by winning the battle with the ball.
Uthappa pointed out that Afghanistan have a formidable bowling attack. He, however, backed the Men in Blue batters to emerge victoriously in the contest. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, he said:
"I think this game is going to be Afghanistan's bowling versus India's batting. I think that's where the competition is. I feel their bowlers are of pretty high calibre. You can take Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi. I like Omarzai also with the ball. Karim Janat is pretty decent with the ball. Noor Ahmed is very good."
"So, I feel like they will have a lot of questions that they will ask the Indian batters. But will Indian batters have the answers? I certainly think so. But if they have a chance, that's where they have a chance," he added.
India and Afghanistan will battle it out against each other at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Thursday, June 20.
"It might be a blessing in disguise" - Robin Uthappa on form of Indian batters in 2024 T20 World Cup
Robin Uthappa highlighted that many Indian batters failed to find form in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. He remarked the the players must translate their potential into performance at this crucial juncture of the tournament.
The cricketer-turned-commentator stated:
"The Indian batters necessarily haven't come to the party. They haven't looked as convincing as we know them to be. Confidence of this form is not there currently. Calibre is definitely there. Potential is 100% there. Now, turning that into performance in a big tournament like this, the start has been that sort where the flow is not there."
Uthappa suggested that the underwhelming performances of the Indian batters could prove to be a blessing in disguise, as they can now find some momentum and peak at the right time, adding:
"The Indian batters necessarily haven't come to the party. They haven't looked as convincing as we know them to be. Confidence of this form is not there currently. Calibre is definitely there. Potential is 100% there. Now, turning that into performance in a big tournament like this, the start has been that sort where the flow is not there."
India secured wins over Ireland, Pakistan and the United States of America (USA) in the group stage. Their fourth and final fixture against Canada was abandoned due to a wet outfield.