Ajay Jadeja roped in as Afghanistan Cricket team's mentor for World Cup 2023

Afghanistan appointed former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Afghanistan cricket team have included former Indian legendary batter Ajay Jadeja in their camp. Afghanistan Cricket Board appointed Ajay Jadeja as their mentor for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Former Indian batter joined Afghanistan camp and started charting out the plan for the mega event set to commence on October 5.

This will be Afghanistan’s third World Cup. They were expected to do well in England's last edition but fell short by little margins in a few games. To correct those measures and get a decent idea of Indian conditions, Afghanistan roped in Ajay Jadeja. This will be Jadeja’s first assignment as an international coach. He has experience coaching Delhi in domestic cricket.

Ajay Jadeja now Afghanistan Mentor

Ajay Jadeja is an experienced ODI player and has played 196 ODI games for team India from 1992 to 2000. He has also featured in three back-to-back World Cups for India. Jadeja’s innings against Pakistan in 1996 World Cup quarter-finals are still the most talked-about knock-out and a masterclass for finishers around the world. Jadeja has been a successful white-ball player for India.

Ajay Jadeja has scored 5359 runs at an average of 37.47 in this format. He has also smashed six ODI centuries and 30 half-centuries in his 196-match-long ODI career. Afghanistan will be looking to make good use of Jadeja’s experience in Indian conditions. Afghanistan came closer to defeating India and Pakistan in 2019 World Cup but missed out narrowly.

Afghanistan had a decent outing in Asia Cup as well. They almost chased down 292 runs total against Sri Lanka in just 37 overs. They will have a great opportunity with a decent spin-bowling attack on Indian pitches. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Mohammed Nabi, and Mujib Zadran will be crucial in Afghan camp. Afghanistan will open its campaign against Bangladesh in Dharamshala.