India vs Pakistan: Focus on top-order method, Avesh Khan

The famed top-order can be determined for a course correction whereas the bowling assault might be rejigged as India intention for a ‘Sunday Encore’ towards Pakistan in an Asia Cup ‘Super 4s’ conflict.

If top-order’s Powerplay philosophy is an issue, the inexperience of Avesh Khan on the loss of life isn’t any much less a fear because the staff administration might must revamp the bowling assault towards a robust Pakistan facet which is coming into the sport after demolishing Hong Kong by greater than 150 runs.

With no Ravindra Jadeja obtainable on this recreation, Axar Patel appears a straightaway substitute however the staff mixture does take successful within the absence of Saurashtra all-rounder.

Getting into the #AsiaCup2022 Super Four groove 👌 👌#GroupIndia pic.twitter.com/VMcyG9ywQ5

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 2, 2022

In the final recreation towards Pakistan, head coach Rahul Dravid promoted Jadeja to quantity 4 to maintain the left-right mixture going within the prime six as Rishabh Pant was dropped from the enjoying XI.

It stays to be seen if skipper Rohit Sharma and Dravid will take the gamble once more on Sunday. But it received’t be an exaggeration to say that on the subject of requirement of getting a pure left-hand batter in prime six, solely the person from Roorkee can present the answer.

Last Sunday, it was Hardik Pandya’s one-man present that acquired India over the road in an exhilarating last-over end and Rohit would anticipate that depth is maintained on this recreation too.

However, the Indian staff regardless of being a minefield of expertise does have a tender underbelly and the top-order’s cautious method within the Powerplay overs is certainly one of them.

When #GroupIndia hit 𝗨.𝗡.𝗪.𝗜.𝗡.𝗗! 👏

Time for some surf, sand & seashore volley! 😎#AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/cm3znX7Ll4

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 2, 2022

Neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit regarded snug towards Pakistani assault and because the pitch acquired slower their issues appeared to have compounded.

It was Suryakumar Yadav’s sheer brilliance that saved India from what was turning out to be an embarrassing batting show towards minnows Hong Kong with an out of sync KL Rahul enjoying his slowest ever (36 off 39 balls) innings.

A pertinent query now arises if India will change their prime order and add some firepower since it’s now clear that the mix of Rahul, Rohit and Kohli isn’t working nicely for the staff.

🗣️ @mnawaz94 and @KhushdilShah_ evaluation Pakistan’s victory over Hong Kong and look forward to the Super 4 stage of #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/2qWW9vfqZ8

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 2, 2022

To be honest to Rahul, he deserves a go at prime order for another time as he was dismissed by Naseem Shah within the veryu first ball he confronted in Sunday’s recreation.

But the assume tank must spell it out clearly to Rahul that he wants to vary his outlook of wanting on the quantum of runs reasonably than high quality and influence it creates.

The Pakistan staff, on its half, would additionally like to attain extra within the first 10 overs.

Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam have had all of the success whereas chasing however batting first hasn’t precisely been the sturdy swimsuit of the pair.

Also the slowness of the Dubai monitor does create a couple of issues for the batters.

This raises one other query whether or not Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh can each characteristic within the enjoying eleven.

While Axar’s restrictive bowling is an choice, Deepak Hooda as a batting all-rounder or Ravichandran Ashwin as a bowling all-rounder might be tried out.

With two left handers in Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah in prime six, an off spinner taking the ball away may show to be a superb proposition together with Bhuvneshwar and Hardik, who’re bowling full tilt.

In all, one other Super Sunday may nicely be on the playing cards as the 2 bitter neighbours get able to lock horns.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), 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 (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Mohammed Hasnain, Hasan Ali.