Sports

Asia Cup 2022: Rohit Sharma’s India have surprises up their sleeves in battle of egos vs Pakistan

August 28, 2022
Bharat Times

The Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan is expected to be a high-octane encounter, with the two teams set to face each other for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.

The game possibly will hold more importance for the fans and the cricketers, since the Asia Cup is essentially a stage rehearsal for the premier ICC event of the calendar – the T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia later in the months of October and November. On paper, the two teams, facing each other in the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, 28 August are the strongest units in the tournament, and one would be lying if they did not expect even a little bit of heat between the two sides.

However, we are currently in the post-pandemic era, and things are not quite the same anymore.

The build-up to this game has been nothing like what it usually is when arch-rivals face each other.
Team members of either side have not gone on a press run against any particular player, Virat Kohli has come out and called the opposition captain ‘possibly the best batsman across all formats and the current Indian captain – Rohit Sharma – has inquired of Babar Azam, that exactly when does he plan to get married.

While the camaraderie might have been nice, one can expect some fierce action from the players on the pitch. The training visuals that the Indian team have shared via their social media accounts look promising. Virat Kohli looks to be in menacing touch against the spinners, Rohit Sharma seems to be in a brilliant touch and on the other side, the calm of Babar Azam and the fidgety-ness of Mohammad Rizwan is possibly the most well-balanced cocktail that you can order at the top of the batting line-up.

Injuries

The biggest point of difference between the clash in 2021 and the one on Sunday would be their bowling attacks. While Pakistan will be missing Shaheen Afridi in what seems to be an ACL injury, India will be without the services of Jasprit Bumrah. In this case, the competition should revolve around the batters, unlike the last time.

The pitch

The track that was used in the curtain-raiser between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on August 27, will be used on Sunday. The pitch offered movement at the start of the innings, which toppled the Sri Lanka batting order. The spinners did not get much help in the later half of the innings, and the wicket is expected to remain the same.

Players to watch out for

Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) – The media might be flocking around Babar Azam and his greatness with the bat, but one must not forget the all-round hitting capability of this wicket-keeper batter who can make a mockery out of any bowling line-up in the world.

Hardik Pandya (IND) – Nobody has impressed more since April 2022 than Hardik Pandya in world cricket. Captaining his team to an Indian Premier League winning, putting in a MOM performance in the final. Since then, Hardik has been terrific with both bat and ball, has captained India against Ireland, and much is expected of him in the near future.

Where to watch

The match will be broadcasted on Star Sports Network in India from 7:30 PM

Probable Playing XIs

India

KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh

Pakistan

Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

— ENDS —