India are at the top of the Super Four with a clean record, they are at the top of the table with two wins and four points from two matches. Whereas Pakistan are in second place with one win and two points from two matches.
Notably, India and Pakistan had clashed in a medium scoring thriller. It was a match that marked the start of their campaign in the Asia Cup 2022. India started the winning streak to defend their title by defeating Pakistan by five wickets. Hardik Pandya (3/25) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/26) helped Pakistan bundle out for 147 in 19.5 overs. Rizwan was Pakistan’s top scorer with 43.
Chasing 148, Virat Kohli (35), Ravindra Jadeja (35) and Hardik Pandya (33*) contributed to help Team India win by five wickets with two balls to spare. Mohammad Nawaz (3/33) and Naseem Shah (2/27) put on solid performances for their team with the ball.
But now, this time the stakes are high. Both the teams are looking to start their Super Four phase with a win which will ease their way to the Asia Cup final. Fans are also praying that both the Asian giants go ahead and perform well so that they can compete in the final as well.
Indian top order consisting of KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and
Kohli will have to give his best in this match. While Virat has some war left after his unbeaten 59* against Hong Kong, openers Rahul and Rohit are still struggling to give a positive start and make the most of their powerplays. The work for Rohit will again be to go between runs while for Rahul it will not only be about scoring but also maintaining a healthy strike rate.
The Indian middle order has shown more credibility lately. Players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Hooda stepped up and took responsibility whenever needed. Flamboyant batsmen like Suryakumar, Hardik, Pant will be eager to show their variety of strokes against a quality attack from Pakistan.
With Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya not only giving important wickets but also economic spells, the Indian bowling has been pretty good. Fast bowler Avesh Khan’s expensive outing against Hong Kong, in which he conceded 53 runs in four overs, is a cause for concern. It will be interesting to see whether Avesh gets the support of the team management despite being hit with a late ball.
India’s most trusted all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be ruled out due to injury and his team will miss his services in all three departments on the field.
Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel (who has replaced injured Ravindra Jadeja) will also look to dominate the UAE pitches like fast bowlers, which has benefited India’s pace attack immensely.
Coming to Pakistan, they are marching ahead with their morale after thrashing Hong Kong by 155 runs. Though his reliance on star batsman Babar Azam is a concern, it was great to see Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah building up Azam’s tremendous performances and runs to score.
Azam will try to regain his best form for this crucial encounter. Pakistan should also be careful while playing Indian bowlers as there is no Hong Kong or any other support team playing against them this time. They are walking shoulder to shoulder with a team that is world class just like them.
Pakistan’s bowling has been excellent in the Asia Cup so far. Young fast bowler Naseem Shah has done exceptionally well in the two T20Is he has played so far and has largely filled the place of his leader Shaheen Shah Afridi. Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dah has also been brilliant. Spinners have been Pakistan’s biggest asset in this tournament, with spinner Mohammad Nawaz topping the bowling charts with six wickets. Leg break bowler Shadab Khan is also not far away, taking five wickets in third place. If Pakistan has to win this match, then pace and spin will have to do well.
Whatever the outcome, the Asia Cup 2022 is set to deliver another ‘Super Sunday’ to Asian homes, a continent home to millions of cricket lovers. Many of them would come to the stadium to catch the action, but the idea of watching live action on TV with friends, family and having some delicious food with them would be great too.
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
Pakistan: Babar Azam (Captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Hasnain.
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