India Playing XI vs Pakistan: Asia Cup 2022 LIVE: Rohit Sharma stunned one and all after he made the huge call to drop Rishabh Pant from India’s playing XI for the game against Pakistan. The left-hander was in good touch but was benched in favour of Dinesh Karthik. Meanwhile, Avesh Khan slotted in as the third choice pacer. Follow India vs Pakistan LIVE & Asia Cup Cricket LIVE on InsideSport.IN.
The top 5 look set with Rohit Sharma set to open with KL Rahul. Virat Kohli at No 3 while Suryakumar Yadav at No 4. Hardik Pandya will slot in at No.5 with Ravindra Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik to follow.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
India Playing XI vs Pakistan: 3 Big Playing XI headaches for Rohit Sharma before India vs Pakistan BLOCKBUSTER clash in ASIA CUP CRICKET: Follow IND vs PAK LIVE updates
Dinesh Kartik picked over Rishabh Pant: Dinesh Karthik has also found success batting at No 7 and the Indian team management have put their faith in the veteran.
Barring all the hullabaloo about Karthik’s form, he doesn’t offer India the balance. But since selectors have decided to trust Karthik, it is unlikely that he will be benched. Hence, Hooda is unlikely to make it to the Playing XI.
Who will partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar? – After England and West Indies tours, it is clear that Arshdeep Singh is ahead of Avesh Khan in the pecking order. Hence, it is likely that Arshdeep will partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar in Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel’s absence.
In his short T20I career, Arshdeep Singh has super impressed the selectors. In 6 matches, he has bagged 9 wickets with a brilliant economy rate of 6.33. His yorkers and variations have been super-effective in death overs. In fact, in the five matches where he bowled in the death overs, Arshdeep returned with 7 wickets with an economy of 4.73, the best of the lot.
India Playing XI vs Pakistan: 3 Big Playing XI headaches for Rohit Sharma before India vs Pakistan BLOCKBUSTER clash in ASIA CUP CRICKET: Follow IND vs PAK LIVE updates
What makes Arshdeep Singh first-choice pacer?
- But it’s his left-arm seam that makes him one of the priorities.
- In 6 T20Is, he has bagged 9 wickets at an economy rate of 6.33.
- The most expensive he has been in his T20I career when he conceded 18 runs in 2 overs against West Indies.
- But it was his first full series and with 7 wickets in five matches, he bagged the Player of the Series award.
- However, it’s his death-overs bowling that makes him an invaluable asset in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence.
- In IPL 2022, Arshdeep was only behind Bumrah in terms of numbers in death overs.
- Arshdeep had an economy of 7.58 in death overs slightly behind Bumrah at 7.38.
- But for India in the five T20s where he has bowled in death overs, he has an economy rate of just 4.73 in exchange for 7 wickets.
Where will Ravindra Jadeja play? – Another big puzzle is where would Jadeja play. Considering he is the all-rounder and has batted admirably in the last few months, he should bat ahead of Karthik. But unlike DK, Jadeja isn’t an explosive hitter of the ball.
Hence, he will play more of a floater role in the Playing XI. If the situation demands, he can bat at 7 ahead of Karthik or the veteran can bat at 7 if it’s in the death overs.
India Playing XI vs Pakistan: 3 Big Playing XI headaches for Rohit Sharma before India vs Pakistan BLOCKBUSTER clash in ASIA CUP CRICKET: Follow IND vs PAK LIVE updates
India Playing XI vs Pakistan:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- KL Rahul
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Dinesh Karthik/ Deepak Hooda
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Yuzvendra Chahal
India Playing XI vs Pakistan: Other possible combinations –
- Ravichandran Ashwin is also another possibility ahead of Jadeja.
- With Yuzvendra Chahal being the premier spinner, Ashwin could take the place of 2nd spinner ahead of Jadeja in certain conditions.
- The Top 6 including Hardik Pandya are automatic selection and will make it to the Playing XI of all matches.
- However, there may be changes in the positions. Suryakumar Yadav passed the opening job with flying colours.
- KL Rahul, who is still making a comeback from injury and hasn’t done so well as per Rohit Sharma’s template, can be dropped to No 4 in the middle-order.
India Playing XI vs Pakistan: 3 Big Playing XI headaches for Rohit Sharma before India vs Pakistan BLOCKBUSTER clash in ASIA CUP CRICKET: Follow IND vs PAK LIVE updates
India Asia Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
Backups: Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel
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