Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan: The return of ‘King’ of cricket contests

India vs Pakistan (Photo Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images)

The melodrama surrounding the Asia Cup 2023 began long before the contest itself. The cricket boards of India, Pakistan, and the Asian Cricket Council engaged in a tug-of-war over the choice of a neutral venue. The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, often marred by political agendas, is one of the most intense battles in the sport. When these two teams clash on September 2nd at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka, it will undoubtedly be the center of attention for fans, enthusiasts, and cricket pundits alike.

As statisticians closely analyze the game, it’s poised to be a closely-fought battle between two fantastic teams competing for Asian supremacy while gearing up for the mega event in India, beginning on October 5, 2023. Both Pakistan and India start as favourites, barring any unexpected twists at Pallekele Stadium. Both sides are eager to showcase their skills across all facets of the game, and it’s becoming increasingly challenging to assess teams based solely on paper.

Recent nail-biting contests have produced thrilling finishes akin to the Harry Potter series. India hopes that their batting wizard Virat Kohli can replicate his belligerent innings of 82* not out against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup, while a return to form for Hit-man Rohit Sharma, reminiscent of his 2018 Asia Cup performance, would be a treat for the fans.

Fortunately for India, captain Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid, the return of Jasprit Bumrah has strengthened the bowling unit. It will be intriguing to see India’s strategy in terms of their balance between spin and pace in this crucial match, given the slow nature of subcontinental pitches. The team is likely to feature a maximum of two fast bowlers in the final XI, with Hardik Pandya serving as the third seamer.

With only a few matches before the World Cup, the team management will ask Bumrah to lead the pace attack, with the choice between Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj for the second pacer spot. Siraj, who has excelled in red-ball cricket, is often likened to Virat Kohli, in terms of his bowling prowess, while Shami has long been a premier white-ball bowler, and the combination of Bumrah and Shami has proven successful in the past. The management’s dilemma in choosing between Siraj and Shami adds an interesting dimension to this high-stakes contest.

Undoubtedly, the absence of KL Rahul, who typically plays a dual role as wicketkeeper and batsman at number 5, will be felt in the next two matches as he recovers from an injury. This presents an opportunity for Ishan Kishan to demonstrate his abilities in both keeping and batting, especially given his recent double century as an opener. Additionally, the performance of Suryakumar Yadav (SKY), who has struggled to replicate his T20 success in ODIs, will be closely monitored. With Shreyas Iyer’s return to the middle order, he becomes an automatic choice, but the team management could consider a surprising move by including SKY, potentially boosting his confidence.

There has been much discussion about Shaheen Afridi’s return, considering his economy rate of 5.32 in ODIs with 78 wickets in 40 matches. However, his only ODI match against India in 2018 saw him go wicketless, offering some relief to the Indian team. Yet, Pakistan is not solely reliant on Afridi, boasting a formidable lineup of bowlers such as Rauf, Naseem, and Wasim, along with quality spinners.

Their recent jump to the top of the Men’s ODI rankings speaks volumes about their team composition, strength, and skill set. Pakistan’s middle order, once a vulnerability, has been bolstered with the inclusion of Iftikhar, who recently displayed remarkable form with a century against Nepal in the first Asia Cup 2023 clash. With Rizwan at number 4, Babar at number 3, and all-rounders like Shadab, Nawaz, and Salman Agha, Pakistan presents a danger to any strong team.

This contest is far from one where India starts as the clear favorite. It’s an evenly matched battle between two formidable teams, where previous encounters and records can simply be viewed as part of history. The India-Pakistan match promises to be a test of nerves, with early momentum likely holding the key.

by- Rakesh Kapoor