Following a disappointing rainout during the group stage, India and Pakistan are gearing up for another highly-anticipated clash in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. This time, they are set to meet in the Super Four stage, and fans are brimming with excitement at the prospect of witnessing these two arch-rivals go head-to-head in an ODI encounter.
Pakistan secured their initial victory in the Super Four stage against Bangladesh with a five-wicket win, putting them within touching distance of a spot in the tournament finals.
In the meantime, India enters the Super Four stage with a ten-wicket triumph over Nepal in their second group match. Their upcoming clash against Pakistan on Sunday is a pivotal encounter that will establish the tempo for the remainder of the tournament. In this discussion, we’ll delve into the expected lineup for India as they face Pakistan.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is ready to overcome his recent troubles against Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and the Pakistan team. Sharma has encountered issues in recent matches across formats against Pakistan, but his tendency to dominate the game when in form is well-known.
Shubman Gill had a rough start in the first game against Pakistan, managing an uncharacteristic 10 runs off 32 balls. However, he bounced back with a good performance against Nepal, scoring an undefeated half-century.
Pakistan, on the other side, will have similar concerns while facing Virat Kohli. The former Indian captain has a history of success against Pakistan and is a coveted wicket for them.
The decision between Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul for the No. 4 berth will be a hard one. However, India may remain with their existing batting lineup, likely favoring Iyer, who showed promise in the last game but was removed while attempting a shot.
Star wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul missed the group-stage game against Pakistan owing to an injury but has been pronounced fit for the rest of the fixtures. Additionally, the return of elite pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the Super 4 matches is a pleasant development for Rohit Sharma’s team.
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the team’s major all-rounders, with Hardik contributing consistently with the bat and Jadeja making crucial contributions with the ball.
The availability of Bumrah and Rahul is a huge advantage for India against Pakistan, although it offers a selection conundrum for captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.
Ishan Kishan’s stunning performance against Pakistan became his fourth consecutive ODI fifty. However, removing him to accommodate KL Rahul will be a tough call. Rahul hasn’t played cricket since IPL 2023, which raises questions about his readiness for the critical Pakistan encounter. If Rahul begins, Ishan Kishan may have to sit out, a choice that will keep supporters guessing till the toss.
In the bowling department, Bumrah is poised to play against Pakistan, potentially replacing Mohammed Shami in the playing eleven. Shami grabbed only one wicket against Nepal but performed an economical stint. Shardul Thakur’s batting talents and Mohammed Siraj’s current form offer them an advantage against Shami. The team management may revisit this before picking the final eleven against Pakistan. India might choose Axar Patel as the third spinner with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, considering the spin-friendly conditions at the Premadasa Stadium and Axar’s batting prowess, which is an advantage for the squad.
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