A captain with a new batting philosophy and a master batter standing at the crossroads, trying to reinvent himself, will aim to create a new narrative when India get ready to settle scores with Pakistan in the marquee Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday (August 28). Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the two pillars of India’s white-ball team for the past decade but having received a rude jolt at this very venue 10 months back during the T20 World Cup, the duo exactly know where it stands and what it need to do to turn the tables.
While Rohit will be eager to test his ultra aggressive batting template against the Asian giants, for Kohli it will be the perfect platform to return to form after enduring a tough phase in the last few years. There would be a bigger picture also and that is to set the core combination for the T20 World Cup in Australia in order by the end of this tournament.
With no bilateral contests between the cross-border neighbours for 10 years now and nothing on the anvil in near future, the geo-political tension does always make for a heady build-up. But the lack of regular games mean that Indo-Pak rivalries are rather held between unfamiliar foes rather than familiar ones.
One can’t plan a lot against an opposition whom a team plays once or twice a year, while one has to expect the unexpected. The last meeting India played Babar Azam-led Pakistan, they didn’t have any idea how much Shaheen Shah Afridi had improved. The result was a 10-wicket defeat.
Make your predictions before the #GreatestRivalry in DP World #AsiaCup2022!#BelieveInBlue | #INDvPAK | Aug 28, 6 PM | Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar pic.twitter.com/3qoYqF6AS6
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 27, 2022
A lot was said after Afridi’s two-over opening spell send jitters in the Indian camp during the last T20 World Cup opener and India’s erstwhile team management did cop a lot of flak for its archaic batting approach in shortest format of the game.
Questions were raised whether the sameness in the top-order with three right-handers make it easy for a good left-arm paceman to set the alarm bells ringing. However on Sunday, there will be no Afridi (due to knee injury) to bend it back into the top three India right-handers but the fact remains that despite all the experimentations done by coach Rahul Dravid, the top-order remains exactly the same after that debacle in Dubai.
Match Details
When will the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match be played?
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match will held on Sunday (August 28).
Where will the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match be played?
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match will be played in Dubai.
What time will the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match start?
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match will start at 730 PM IST and the toss will take place at 7pm.
How can I watch India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match on TV in India?
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match will be live on Star Sports Network in India.
How can I follow the live streaming of the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match?
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Group A match will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar website and app.