Jonathan Trott cut a calm figure after Afghanistan’s six-wicket defeat to New Zealand in Chennai, insisting the batting order is finally starting to settle even if the result did not go his way.
Since the 2024 T20 World Cup the men in sky blue have tried 11 options at No 3. Trott now feels the search is over. Gulbadin Naib, back in that slot for the first time in a while, belted a career-best 63 from 35 balls, turning a watchful 18 off 16 into a 29-ball half-century. The management even shuffled Sediqullah Atal – comfortably their most productive first-drop since 2024 – down the list to accommodate him.
“Without giving too many tactics away, I thought he plays well and that [No.3] position suits him,” Trott said. “So hopefully he can continue to do that. I thought he’s looked decent form. He just hasn’t got the runs in the series against the West Indies. He didn’t get too many, but hopefully he’s starting to hit form now and he can continue this form for the rest of the tournament.”
Naib has prospered in India before, finishing third-highest run-scorer in a 2024 T20I series here with 112 runs at a strike-rate north of 190. Franchise stints with Dubai Capitals and a leadership spell in Guyana have broadened his game, though a lean Asia Cup recently cost him a place in the XI. Trott, however, has never doubted the 34-year-old’s value.
“He’s a strong hitter of the ball. He’s very experienced,” the coach added. “He’s played a lot of cricket all around the world and has been successful in India before in our T20 series a couple of years ago. He’s fond of playing here in India and these wickets suit him, so hopefully he can continue that form, he’s a good player.”
Questions before the match focused on whether three wrist-spinners might prove too much for New Zealand, especially at Chepauk. Afghanistan opted against pairing Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman with local IPL favourite Noor Ahmad, preferring an extra seamer. The move back-fired. Fazalhaq Farooqi missed his yorkers, Naveen-ul-Haq struggled for length and the Black Caps chased 165 with five balls left.
Trott defended the call. In his view the plans were sound; the execution was not. “Conditions told us two spinners were enough and the quicks had a good record here,” he said before turning attention to a few wayward overs at the death. “We speak about nailing the basics – the yorker, the hard length – but under pressure that can slip.”
While the bowling wobbled, another bright spot emerged with the bat. Darwish Rasooli, 26, has been around the national set-up for a while without fully nailing a spot. Three consecutive fifties against West Indies last month, including a decisive 84 in Dubai, have changed perceptions. In Chennai he chipped in again, carving Lockie Ferguson through cover and nudging Afghanistan towards a competitive total.
“He’s been in the squad a few times and we saw how well he played against the West Indies in the series there in Dubai,” Trott said. “So his form continued today and he solidifies that middle order nicely. His form is great and hopefully like Gulbadin he can continue that form at No. 5 and that power! We saw the power that he has.”
Trott accepts, though, that promise must turn into points quickly. Group A is tight; slip twice and the semi-final dream fades. “We’ve got to tighten those last four overs,” he noted, pointing to 48 runs conceded between the 17th and 19th. “If we hit our lengths the conversation around selection disappears.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, speaking pitch-side, agreed Afghanistan were “a couple of yorkers away” from making the chase awkward. At the same time he praised Naib’s knock. “Gulbadin changed the complexion. We had to claw it back,” Williamson said.
Next up for Afghanistan is South Africa in Delhi on Wednesday. The surface there can turn but also rewards skiddy pace if the dew arrives. Trott hinted the debate around Noor will crop up again yet kept cards close to his chest. “We’ll look at the strip, we’ll look at our options. The lads know places aren’t guaranteed,” he said.
For now the coach prefers to dwell on clearer positives – a solid No 3 at last and a middle-order hitter coming of age – rather than a bowling plan that mis-fired on the day. A team once reliant almost solely on Rashid and Mujeeb suddenly has more strings to its bow. A few tweaks with the ball and, Trott believes, Afghanistan remain firmly in the mix.
