IND vs PAK Preview: It’s that day of the year when the entire cricketing landscape comes to a standstill. Rohit Sharma-led India Cricket Team will face Babar Azam-led Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023 at Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday at 3 PM. While there is rain threat, one could also expect some thunderous shots from Virat Kohli and Shaheen Afridi breathing fire. However, the tenacity of the IND vs PAK blockbuster may be a little less as it is only a dress rehearsal of the October 14 India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 showdown in Ahmedabad.
The Asia Cup has returned to the 50-over format to facilitate an ideal preparation for World Cup 2023. But for the organisers and the fans India vs Pakistan is not just another game, it is ‘The Match’.
The last time the two sides faced off, Virat Kohli’s lofted check-drive off Haris Rauf in Melbourne in T20 World Cup became a part of Indian cricket fans’ muscle memory.
Before that encounter, Pakistanis rejoiced when Shaheen Afridi’s lethal inswinger dismissed Rohit Sharma. His fiery spell left India in tatters in Dubai in 2021. Now, it’s time for another rematch with the winner taking the bragging rights.
Such performances help players grow into legends. Saturday’s Asia Cup game will be another opportunity for cricketers from both sides to emerge as heroes.
However, with steady rain predicted in the hilly Kandy region on Saturday, an anti-climax to a mouth-watering clash can’t be ruled out.
Fight fire with fire
Despite injury struggles, Team India are fresh. They have had six days of good Asia Cup 2023 camp in Alur. Now, it’s time for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill to play fire with fire against Shaheen Afridi, Nasee, Shah and Haris Rauf.
Overcast conditions and a bit of nip in the air will be what Pak pace battery would need. Especially Gill, who doesn’t have a pronounced feet movement against pacers could be in danger. Then, the puzzle surrounding Indian and Pakistani middle assumes significance.
Middle order in focus:
However, problem with India’s middle-order is the absence of KL Rahul. Being a keeper-batter, he could slot right in the middle-order. But Rahul is injured and will miss out on both group games.
Ishan Kishan is the preferred batter-keeper. But where does he bat is the question. It is unlikely that India will tinker Top 3 with Rohit-Shubman-Virat making the Top 3. Where does Ishan fit in? Most at No 4 or 5 swapping position with Shreyas Iyer.
Kishan’s inclusion will certainly give the Indian batting unit a bit of variety for him being a left-hander. But the Jharkhand stumper has never batted at No 5 in his India career. And his average in middle-order is a meagre 22.75.
Undercooked Pakistan
Pakistan, on the other hand, are one of the most undercooked ODI sides at the moment. Since the World Cup 2019, the Men in green have played just 29 ODIs. India have played 57 matches in the same period. Pakistan have played 12 of those 29 matches this year as well.
While Babar Azam (689 runs), Fakhar Zaman (593 runs) and Imam-ul-Haq (361 runs) have been consistent, they too have a middle-order issue.
Usama Mir, Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman have been largely inconsistent. They look anaemic on the days when Mohammad Rizwan fails at No 4. Often, Pakistan have had to depend on No 7 Iftikhar Ahmed and No 8 Shadab Khan to add a bit of heft to their innings. Iftikhar was promoted against Nepal and helped himself with an ODI hundred.
Bowling combination
Despite the batting struggles, Pakistan hold the edge in bowling, especially pace department. Return of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna will bolster the attack. But it’s still unsure who will be the third pacer in India Playing XI.
The Indian management might just prefer Shami in a needle match against Pakistan. So, India’s pace attack could be Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj and Shami with Hardik Pandya giving them the fourth seamer option.
As impressive as they are on paper, the Pakistan pace troika of Shaheen, Naseem and Rauf is a treat to watch. They already have taken 49 wickets among themselves this year. Rauf leads the chart with 17 wickets from 10 matches.
India will also have to keep a close on the selection in the spin department. Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion is certain and he could be coming in at No. 7. But that will leave India with four bowlers who hardly contribute with the bat. India might think long before picking between left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and left-arm spinner Axar Patel.
While Axar will give India the option of a bowler who can bat at No. 8, Kuldeep has better striking ability. Kuldeep is India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs this year with 22 wickets in 11 matches.
IND vs PAK Match Details
- Match: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023 Group A
- Venue: Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka
- Time: 3 PM IST
- LIVE Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar
- Live Broadcast: Star Sports
Predicted Playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammed Nawaz
IND vs PAK Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumraj, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (travelling reserve).
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).
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