Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott has urged cricket boards around the world to play more bilateral series against his inexperienced side while adding that their T20I series against India is a 'step in the right direction.'

Afghanistan played a one-off Test match against India in 2018 and now the two teams are locking horns in a three-T20I series.

India are leading the series 1-0 after winning the opening match in Mohali by six wickets. The second T20I is due to be held in Indore on Sunday (January 14).

On the eve of the second T20I, Trott addressed a press conference and hailed his team's progress over the years to finally play a bilateral series against a cricketing giant like India.

"It's always great coming to India. We had a great experience in the World Cup, and now. Every time we are here, I certainly enjoy it. We have eight IPL players, who will spend more time in the country. But the bilateral series is a big step in the right direction for our side. It's an indication as well of the progress made by the side. Hopefully, it can happen all around the world and not just India, and we can play in other countries as well as many series as possible," Trott told reporters.

"The more cricket we play as a side, the better it is for us. They will get more exposure, at the moment their exposure is limited to franchise cricket. This is the first bilateral series against India, and it's a big occasion for the side. Individually, players have been all around the world, but we hope to go to countries as a team as well. We need to make sure we play well in this series, and get ready for Sri Lanka, which is coming up in February. That will be a big series, as well as the one against Ireland, which will be the last T20I practice ahead of the World Cup. So, exciting times are ahead," he explained.

India’s ace batter Virat Kohli, who missed the series opener in Mohali due to personal reasons, has joined the team and is likely to take part in the second T20I.

On the prospect of his bowlers getting the chance to bowl at Kohli, Trott said, "Every team will have world-class players. You've got to get accustomed to playing them if you want to start winning games and beating sides. We're going to have to bowl against the best or face up to the best bowlers in the world. and that's a great challenge, and why we play this game. There's no point trying to play this game and (being) not happy to face up to or accept those challenges. I'm excited for our boys. I'm really looking forward to seeing how we go against world-class players in the (Indian) side. and I think we've done well in the past. We had a bit of taste of that in the 50-over World Cup, where we beat world-class sides. I think we can do that in this (T20) format as well."

Afghanistan are taking on India without the services of their talismanic leg-spinning all-rounder Rashid Khan, who is recovering from a back injury. Rashid, however, is travelling with his national team.

"I think any team in the world will miss Rashid if they had the option of having him in the side. Yes, obviously we miss Rashid. At the beginning of the series, I had said: 'It's a great opportunity for somebody else to come in. and gives us more options down the line. Rashid's back is going to get better as soon as possible. He will be back playing. In cricket, there's always injuries, things like niggles always crop up.so, what we need is a good squad, we don't need just a good XI in the team. and this (Rashid's absence) presents us with that opportunity," the coach stated.

Reflecting on the first T20I, where Afghanistan failed to defend the target of 159, Trott said that heavy dew at night time in Mohali made things difficult for his bowlers.

“That was the first time. We trained for three nights before the game and there was no dew, but there was dew on the match day. That's the great thing about cricket. Conditions change quickly and that makes the game so fascinating. There's a bit of dew in the evening and that will come into effect. I have had a look at the pitch and it should be an exciting game," he remarked.

(With TOI Inputs)