South African batters are familiar with the Afghan spinners and are ready for them, says Miller

David Miller assures South African batters are well-prepared for familiar Afghan spinners ahead of their World Cup clash.

There are seemingly no more secrets in international cricket. David Miller and Rashid Khan, who are set to face-off in the South Africa-Afghanistan Group D encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Wednesday, may very well attest.

Miller and Rashid played together for Gujarat Titans for three seasons in the IPL here. Rashid is a regular in the SA20, and he and Miller played each other in the 2023 ODI World Cup at this very ground.

Yet, for all the familiarity, cricket retains a glorious uncertainty — the pitch. And this being a day game that starts at 11 a.m., there is great intrigue.

“No one around the world will tell you how the wicket will behave before the game,” Rashid said on Tuesday. “Everyone gives their point of view. Sometimes it’s a 250 wicket, and sometimes 150. If you put those things in the mind it affects you mentally.

“Nowadays, I’m hearing a lot of discussion about the wicket. We are not really discussing the skills that we have. And we bring those skills into the game,” he added.

In Sunday’s five-wicket defeat to New Zealand, Rashid & Co. couldn’t tie down the Kiwi batters. But against the Proteas, they may be encouraged by how Canada left-arm spinner Ansh Patel kept the South Africans on a leash during Monday’s contest and picked up three wickets.