Can rank them anywhere: India assistant coach Doeschate unfazed about Nawaz being classified as best spinner in world
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate Brushes Off Pakistan’s Hype on Mohammad Nawaz Ahead of Asia Cup Clash
In the build-up to the high-stakes Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan in Dubai, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate kept things cool and confident. When asked about Pakistan calling their left-arm wrist spinner Mohammad Nawaz the "best spinner in the world," Doeschate simply shrugged it off. "Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, and they can rank their players wherever they wish," he told reporters during a pre-match press conference on Saturday.
This buzz started before Pakistan’s Asia Cup opener, when their white-ball head coach Mike Hesson praised Nawaz. The spinner shone in Pakistan’s recent T20I Tri-Series win against Afghanistan and UAE, grabbing 10 wickets in five matches at an average of just 11.70. He even took a five-wicket haul in the final, earning Player of the Series honors. Fans and experts are talking about Mohammad Nawaz’s spin bowling skills, but Doeschate isn’t sweating it.
Doeschate highlighted how crucial spinners will be in the Asia Cup 2024, especially on UAE pitches. "Spin is going to be very important in this competition," he said. He pointed to India’s strong spin attack, featuring stars like Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav. While the pitches haven’t gripped as much as expected this time, spin remains a game-changer in T20 cricket. Both teams boast plenty of spin options, but Doeschate trusts India’s trio to deliver.
Pakistan’s squad looks different this time around. They’ve dropped their star openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who formed Pakistan’s most successful batting pair but faced criticism for their slow T20 approach. The duo hasn’t played since last December, and with Hesson as coach, there were rumors of a comeback. Instead, Pakistan is trying a fresh direction with younger, more aggressive players.
Doeschate acknowledged the shift. "Pakistan have decided to change the direction of how they play their cricket, and that affects their setup," he explained. He called the new players "fairly inexperienced" but "probably more dangerous" in T20s due to their attacking style. Still, India has done their homework. "We’ve got our plans and strategies for attacking that tomorrow," Doeschate assured, sounding ready for the Pakistan vs India Asia Cup thriller.
On paper, India enters as favorites, with an impressive recent record against Pakistan. But Doeschate kept expectations realistic. "India do start as favorites tomorrow," he admitted, crediting their consistency. Yet, he stressed that cricket boils down to execution on the day. "We’ll be focused on the 120 balls with the bat and 120 balls with the ball—the team that’s more consistent over those 240 balls will win."
He added that no one is taking the challenge lightly. "We’re under no illusion about the task ahead. A big part of what we’re doing is staying grounded and focusing on getting better every day." In tournaments like the Asia Cup, past form matters little—it’s all about performing when it counts.
India’s spin prowess and overall strength make them a tough side, but Pakistan’s bold changes could shake things up in this arch-rival showdown. Cricket fans can’t wait for the action on Sunday.
India Squad for Asia Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
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