Clash Between Asian Giants Promises Mouth Watering Fare

It is time for the big clash that everyone’s been waiting for with bated breath. Yes, all eyes are focused upon India and Pakistan once again as they take on each other in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka on Saturday. Though the two big rivals have played several T20Is in the last two years, the game at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy will be their first ODI match in four years. Given the high voltage contest that emanates on every occasion the teams meet on the cricket turf, fans will be keen to witness a thrilling contest but there is a possibility that the weather may play a spoilsport during the course of play.

With the ODI World Cup also around the corner, both India and Pakistan will be eager to gain a psychological edge in what could be the first of three matches between the two teams in the tournament. The subcontinental siblings have faced each other 136 times in ODIs with Pakistan winning 73 and India emerging victorious in 55.

However, over the past decade, Team India has been a more dominant force. In the 14 matches played between the two sides during 2010 to 2019, India won 10. Cricket aficionados remember many unforgettable ODI thrillers during the course of IndiaPakistan rivalry but the last match during the ODI World Cup in 2019 was a surprisingly one-sided victory for Team India.

But the Pakistani side has become much stronger over the past 4 years which clearly reflects in its current ranking as number 1 ODI side in the world. While Pakistan has recently beaten Afghanistan 3-0 with its formidable line-up, Team India has had a rather disappointing white leg of the Windies tour over the last month. Although India did win the ODI series 2-1 but it came with hiccups, resulting later in losing the T20 series 3-2. Of course, most of the key players from the ODI unit were missing in action in Windies and are now fit and back in the Indian squad, but they are short of match practice which might play into the hands of the wily Pakistan squad.

Importantly for India, Bumrah is back and that’s a huge morale booster since it strengthens the Indian attack. He showed glimpses of his best in the recently concluded T20 series in Ireland and along with Shami and Siraj in the side, the Indian pace battery will be at full tilt. Yet, the big question mark is about the spinners as India has too many left arm bowlers in Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav while surprisingly leaving out Yuzvendra Chahal could prove immensely costly!

India’s batting may be at its full strength with Virat and Rohit back after a rest but with Shreyas playing after a long gap and Rahul still nursing a niggle, it could result in a tricky situation. Obviously, a lot will depend on the star duo of Virat and Rohit as both have always been sublime against Pakistan. In the last ODI against Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup, Rohit hit a fine century to take India to a winning total and none can forget last year’s epic knock of Virat in the T20 World Cup which demolished Pakistan in Australia. India would be pinning hopes on the two irrespective of whether the team bats first or chases later.

Pakistan isn’t a pushover and with Captain Baba Azam in the form of his life, the side has become much stronger over the past 4 years. Fresh from his brilliant 151 against Nepal in the opening match of Asia Cup as well as a number of talented players in his team, Babar is bristling with confidence, while other batsmen like Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan too are in good nick. But what worries the opponents is the Pakistan bowling line up. If it has arguably the best fast bowling line up in the world in Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, their spin attack of orthodox left armer Mohammad Nawaz and right arm wrist spinner Shadab Khan too is a stinging combination.

The fight has always been between the Indian batting v/s the Pakistan bowling and on Saturday it might not be too different. If Indian batters can dominate against Pak pacers, then, most likely, the game will be in India’s grip. Expectations are high and fans on both sides of the border want nothing short of a victory from their team. In such a situation, whoever holds the nerve better will emerge triumphant. Regardless of who wins, the fans around the world are in for a terrific treat!

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Siddhaarth Mahan The writer is a specialist on Sports and Cinema who works as an actor in the Hindi film industry