When the two fierce rivals square off in the T20 World Cup’s marquee clash in Colombo on Sunday, India will need middle-order stability and a fully fit Abhishek Sharma to maintain dominance over Pakistan amid the still-smoldering embers of an impasse that combined cricket and politics like never before.
After Pakistan reversed its boycott stance and agreed to play India at the Premadasa stadium, a brief “peace season” has begun. It followed weeks of difficult negotiations involving Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the International Cricket Council.
Since this match has the potential to draw millions of fans and money, practically everyone in South Asia was turning the wheel to make it happen, if the weather gods would permit. The BCCI’s order to remove Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman off the Kolkata Knight Riders’ roster started a chain of events that eventually turned into a cross-border crisis, but it has finally stopped.
Cricketers from both teams have attempted to control the hoopla that surrounds this match by referring to it as just another game on the schedule. The exact nature of their ideas in that regard is difficult to understand, but both sides undoubtedly do not want the outcome to go against them due to the negative frenzy it might bring. They will need to ignore the ideas of a fan backlash and concentrate on the more manageable aspects in order to achieve that.
Abhishek was forced to miss the match against Namibia due to a gastrointestinal ailment that required hospitalization, which is where India’s concerns begin. In the event that he is unavailable, India can either continue with Sanju Samson or bring in a fit Washington Sundar to open alongside Ishan Kishan.
On the sticky and slow Premadasa pitch, Washington can also provide an off-spin alternative. The track’s characteristics may possibly lead the management to include Kuldeep Yadav, a left-arm wrist spinner.
However, Kuldeep’s selection will have to come at the expense of a batter, and Rinku Singh may be the unfortunate one left out. Because of his dominance over Babar Azam and his impressive 4/30 performance in the Asia Cup final in Dubai, which was his final match against the cross-border rivals, bringing in Kuldeep is also a very alluring possibility.
The India batting lineup in the lead-up to the World Cup crushed everything in its path like a bulldozer sliding down a slope. However, the two games played in the main tournament thus far have indicated a slight worry: a tendency to lose wickets quickly.
While India lost 5/4 against Namibia in the final overs before slumping to 77/6 against the USA in Mumbai, their losses were overshadowed by a 200-plus total and a commanding 93-run triumph in New Delhi. Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, and captain Suryakumar Yadav supported India on both of those occasions.
However, winning a lengthy tournament like this requires teamwork rather than relying solely on individual skill. The management wouldn’t be too worried about it because they have four points in the kitty, but they wouldn’t want to see another display of carelessness because Pakistan could take its advantage.
Following the hybrid approach that was outlined last year, Pakistan has been stationed in Colombo, which has improved their knowledge of the field and its conditions. The RPICS pitch has proven a speed-sucker and the 2009 winners had five strong spinners in their ranks: Usman Tariq, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz.
The struggle with the adaptable Indian batters would provide for an exciting subplot of the match, and Tariq’s side-arm stop and pause motion has already made headlines. Ayub, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, and the unstoppable Sahibzada Farhan, who appeared to have gained control over Jasprit Bumrah during the Asia Cup last year, are Pakistan’s most potent batters.
With all due respect to the USA and the Netherlands, Pakistan have not yet been put to the test by a top-tier bowling team, whereas India does. India has demonstrated that they can win matches in home den with players like Varun Chakravarthy and Bumrah, and even pace all-rounder Shivam Dube has become a much better bowler in recent years.
When choosing combinations, it offers the reigning champions a great deal of versatility. But putting all the math aside, the goal of this match is to achieve mental balance and overcome both internal and external pressures.
A developing low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has prompted the Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology to warn of a 70% chance of rain in the Khettarama area on Sunday evening.
Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
