Asia Cup 2022: India’s possible playing XI vs Pakistan’s possible playing XI
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Mohammad Rizwan, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, and Virat Kohli
The blockbuster match between cricket’s arch-rivals India and Pakistan is two days away. Asia Cup 2022 will commence from Saturday, August 27 with Sri Lanka playing Afghanistan and on the next day, the two neighbors India and Pakistan will lock-horns.
Six teams will be taking part in the Cup. India and Pakistan are placed in Group A along with the qualifier team Hong Kong while Group B has Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
India are the defending champions as they have defeated Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2018. The Men in Blue have also most number of titles, that is seven out of 12 Asia Cup tournaments. Sri Lanka stands second with five trophies while Pakistan has two.
India’s probable playing XI
Openers
The India captain Rohit Sharma will be responsible for giving India a good start as he has decent success against Pakistan. However, KL Rahul’s form will be in question since he is making a comeback to cricket after injury. Notwithstanding his injury, he record is phenomenal as an opener and he can easily switch gears. He has the strength of providing stability from one end if the batting order collapses.
Middle orders
Virat Kohli‘s name comes pops up when it comes to the middle-order. He was the only standing batsman in last year’s ICC World T20 when Pakistan defeated India (by 10 wickets) for the first time in World Cups. His records against Pakistan is magnificent, so, despite his prolonged poor form, his records against Pakistan can’t be ignored.
Suryakumar Yadav is the perfect fit at No. 4 because he is in terrific form currently. He was the highest run-scorer in the England T20I series (171 runs that including a century). He plays with a strike rate of 140 plus.
Hardik Pandya has the ability to handle the middle over at the same time can strike massive shots towards the end. He has successfully made his comeback from injury. His comeback story started in IPL 2022 where he led Gujarat Titans to its maiden IPL title and since then, the flamboyant all-rounder never looked back.
At No. 6, no one can fit the position well than Dinesh Karthik. This stalwart cricketer has a long journey of making a comeback to blue colours. His hard-hitting abilities while representing RCB in IPL 2022 still remains fresh in fans’ memories. That he can play the perfect role of a finisher that India is looking. Opposition team wouldn’t want him after 16th over.
Ravindra Jadeja’s batting abilities in recent matches showed how he can smash huge hits and accordingly rotate strike when required. He is very economical with the ball and this builds pressure among the batsmen.
Bowlers
India won’t have the services of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel. So Rohit can hand the new ball to Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has been in terrific form in IPL 2022 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has picked up 12 wickets in five matches since his return to India’s squad. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin have formed a spin pair, which is evident when they had played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022 and the team had reached the finals. Chahal even emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the league.
India has found another death-over bowler in Arshdeep Singh. This young pacer with lethal yorker has proved his ability to build pressure in death over and taking wickets.
India’s probable playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh.
India’s squad for Asia Cup 2022: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Ravi Bishnoi, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
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Pakistan’s probable playing XI
Openers
The opening pair of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan has troubled India in last year’s World Cup. Pakistan will be repeating the same in Asia Cup also. Babar is currently the No. 1 batsman in T20I and his explosive partner Rizwan will be looking for another destructive start.
Middle Order
The agressive Fakar Zaman is the perfect fit at No. 3. He had been amazing form in Pakistan Super League. Another player, Haider Ali also played decently in PSL.
Khushdil Shah’s all-rounding skills fit him at No. 5. He can build innings if batting order collapse at the same time, play aggressive if needed.
Mohammed Nawaz has proved himself providing with crucial contribution when in need and has shown the ability as a game changer with both bat and ball.
Shadab Khan started as a leg-spinner but over the years, he has proved his ability to strike the ball as well.
Bowling
Pakistan received a massive blow in the form of Shaheen Afridi’s being ruled out of the tournament due to knee injury. His contribution was one of the main reason behind India’s defeat in the World Cup last year. So, Harris Paul will be taking carer of the pace department. He has proved himself a dangerous bowler and can consistently bowl yorkers at a pace 140 kph.
Mohamed Wasim JR. has picked 17 wickets in 11 games at 15.88 and is very handy with the bat as well. Mohammad Hasnain was the replacement for Shaheen. Hasnain has played 18 T20I matches so far and picked up 17 wickets.
Pakistan’s probable playing XI: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Fakar Zaman, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammed Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Harris Rauf, Mohamed Wasim JR., Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah,
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2022: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Hasnain
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Gouri Das
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