Published: Feb 26, 2016, 08:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 27, 2016, 05:07 PM (IST)
India will cross swords with arch-rival Pakistanin the fourth game of the Asia Cup T20 2016 at Dhaka on Saturday. It is inarguably one of the most looked-for games of the tournament and the intensity and passion will be touching the seventh sky. India look favourites for the awe-inspiring encounter but certain loopholes in their batting line up can benefit Pakistan and the latter can turn the tide to win the battle. As T20Is are customarily acknowledged as a batsman’s game, India look superior as their strength has been batting. Even though Indian bowlers have done a commendable job, but batting still remains to be their primary force. Bulk of their runs has been scored by the top order in the recent times while middle-order has not yet done anything noteworthy and has looked rusty. With bowling being Pakistan’s vigour, Suraj Choudhari throws light on some subtle intricacies and opines Indian batting-order could be a worrying factor. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup T20 2016 Match 4 at Dhaka
India have conventionally banked on their batsmen whereas Pakistan is reckoned to have used bowling as their primary weapon. It can be said that this battle will be between India’s batting and Pakistan’s bowling. If one takes a closer look, the Indian top-order has been the key behind India’s success in the recent times. In last 11 games played in last 12 months, Indian top-order have accounted for 1,071 runs at a scorching strike rate of over 135. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan have been the massive contributors and have stepped up on most of the occasions. Rohit averages 45.55 in last nine games and has garnered 410 runs at a strike rate of 136.21 while Kohli in six outings has gathered 250 runs at a staggering average of 62.50 and a strike rate of 152.43. READ: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2016, 4th T20I at Mirpur: Virat Kohli vs Mohammad Aamer and other Key Battles
If the top-order stumbles, India will definitely be in deep trouble as the rusty middle-order is yet to receive enough exposure. They’ve batted well in bits and pieces but have failed to contribute when there has been a dire need. For instance, in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Pune, India were bundled up for a mere score of 101. The total would have been poorer if Ravichandran Ashwin wouldn’t have played a good hand of 31 down the order. The primary job of Indian middle-order in that game was to bat out 20 overs after losing the top three batsmen for cheap but they failed to do so. READ: Asia Cup 2016: Pakistan’s inability to perform in big tournaments against India may continue
As one famously saw, how the hosts in the opening game of the Asia Cup against India made the utmost use of the conditions and almost created an upset but Rohit spoiled their party with a determined knock. One could not have imagined what total India may have posted if Rohit wouldn’t have got those 80 odd runs. The pitch was conducive for bowling and Bangladeshi bowlers exploited the conditions to keep Indian batsmen under check. They bowled good line but eventually got carried away and let Rohit pile massive runs which ultimately proved crucial. While Dhawan, Kohli, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh all floundered, one would not be wrong in saying that Rohit’s knock probably saved the game for India.
The star studded Indian middle-order boasts of MS Dhoni, Raina, Yuvraj, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. They are proven match winners but of-late, on a surface conducive for bowling, they look bereft of oomph. On the contrary, majority of them are making a comeback or fighting for a regular spot in the side, which adds additional pressure on them. Dhoni in last nine games has just scored 69 runs at a paltry average of 23. He has just faced 41 deliveries which speak much about the consistency of the top-order. Raina on the other hand has been consistent but the flair with which he took on the top bowlers of the game is missing. And his vulnerability against the short pitched deliveries is too taking a toll of him.
Pandya has been impressive with the bat in his sporadic appearances so far and will probably make the difference. Yuvraj has shown some signs of him rediscovering the lost mojo with the bat but has looked rusty so far. In last seven games has just faced 43 deliveries and scored 40 runs. He is a proven match winner and can turn the game any time but once again he is yet to be tested. Another question which strikes is that will Raina, Dhoni, Yuvraj or Pandya be able to bail India out if they are languishing at 40 for three? The answer in contradicting. READ: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup T20 2016, 4th match: Likely XI for India
The three games so far in the series saw some help for the bowlers from the track. As bowling is Pakistan’s forte they will look forward to use it to their advantage and restrict Indian batsmen from scoring big. Their pace battery hails of the likes of Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Irfan to name a few. It has been further bolstered by the comeback of Mohammad Aamer. Pakistani bowlers have been remarkable when it comes to pace bowling. The conditions, especially slightly green pitches will definitely assist them. All the games witnessed some lateral movement and swing in the air which will test India’s Achilles heel against Pakistani bowlers. If they succeed in getting rid of Indian top-order early, they will surely benefit a lot and can probably win the game. Though Indian bowlers have been remarkable but they too need a fighting total to defend. The battle is on as millions of fans await the encounter, which is scheduled for Saturday, with bated breath.
(Suraj Choudhari is a reporter with Criclife and CricketCountry. He is an avid follower of the game, and plays the sport at club level. He has a radical understanding about the subtle nuances and intricacies of cricket, and tries to express it through paper and pen.)
