The tantalizing match between India and Pakistan has the potential to set off a pyrotechnics display at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022.
The arch-rivals will square off in Melbourne on the first weekend of Group 2, with the MCG expected to host some of the top T20I players in the globe.
Here, we examine some of the key match-ups in a contest that could have a major impact on the composition of the semi-finalists.
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Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul versus Shaheen Afridi
India’s starting batters will have been up all night thinking about their previous T20 World Cup encounter with Pakistan. In one of the most renowned T20 bowling performances ever, Shaheen Afridi dismissed both Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the span of just seven deliveries.
A vicious inswinger sent Rohit back to the dugout without making a dent in the score, and at the start of the next over, a magnificent delivery curved back in and castled Rahul’s stumps.
It wasn’t an accident that Afridi’s performance in the Powerplay was so strong throughout his T20I career; India never truly recovered. If India’s openers defeat Shaheen, a significant score could be in the cards.
Death bowlers for India versus Asif Ali
Asif Ali’s potential as a strong finisher has been widely debated recently, but he is a force to be reckoned with in the latter parts of an innings and has the ability to cause serious injury, especially in the bouncy Australian conditions.
India’s strategies at the end are a little bit less evident without Jasprit Bumrah. In a perfect world, Bumrah would bowl at least two of the innings’ final five overs, but Mohammed Shami and his yorker-heavy approach may now fill that role.
Things should go well for India if he hits those yorkers, as he did against Australia in the warm-up game.
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Shadab Khan versus Suryakumar Yadav
The world’s best T20 batter right now is India’s middle-order revelation, and she could be the key to their chances in Australia.
Yadav’s ability to bat against both pace and spin 360 degrees is one of the strengths of his game, and he will be focusing on Pakistan’s main spinner.
For Pakistan, Shadab Khan usually maintains tight control through the middle overs, applying pressure and taking a lot of wickets (87 in 73 innings in T20Is, at a strike rate of 18.8).
If anyone is capable of stopping Shadab, it will be India’s number four. Pakistan isn’t used to watching Shadab go for runs.
Mohammad Rizwan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar versus Babar Azam
It goes without saying that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the foundation of Pakistan’s batting lineup.
For a period of years, the two have established themselves at the top of the MRF ICC T20I Player Rankings. Rizwan enters the T20 World Cup in first place, while Babar is ranked third, with India’s Yadav separating the two.
The combination doesn’t have a problem with the volume of runs, and if they score a lot, it may be a significant problem for the opposition. They have a formidable batting record together, putting up 150 runs or more five times in T20 international matches, most recently with an incredible 203-run opening stand against England.
