As favourites India meet archrivals Pakistan in an Asia Cup encounter on Sunday, the high-pitched narrative that usually comes with an India-Pakistan match is missing this time despite the escalation in tensions between the two countries.
With the likes of Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the squad, the Indians look far more superior on paper as compared to Pakistan, who are trying to come into their own under new skipper Salman Ali Agha. However, considering the unpredictable nature of the T20 format, an upset cannot be ruled out.
One of the most talented batsmen in Pakistan's line-up, opener Saim Ayub, middle-order batsman Hasan Nawaz and the spin troika of Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeen and Mohammed Nawaz would be looking to make an impact in a new-look team devoid of Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan.
The ongoing tensions between the two neighbours is one reason behind the muted build-up to the most high-profile match of the continental cricketing showpiece. With thousands of tickets still available and very few fans turning up at India’s practice session on Friday, the festive excitement around the match is missing.
Also read: Pakistan names Asia Cup squad, Babar and Rizwan omitted
Social media calls for a boycott by India has found some resonance, and as a result, it is not certain how many BCCI officials will turn up on Sunday. The travelling media may be looking to spice up things, but representatives of both the countries have avoided any probing queries which even remotely touch on politics.
Spinners hold the key
An India-Pakistan match is usually about Indian batsmen locking horns with Pakistani pacers, but this time around, the spinners of both sides will have a major role to play, considering that Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the only specialist pacers who will be in action on Sunday.
Although the pitch is not offering significant turn, the presence of one right-arm wrist spinner and one left-arm wrist spinner each in both sides makes for a fascinating sub-plot. Sufiyan Muqeem is a fine bowler, but nowhere close to a much craftier Kuldeep Yadav, whose googly has been unplayable.
Abrar Ahmed's leg-breaks and quirky celebrations have gained him a lot of fans across Pakistan, but Varun Chakravarthy, with an element of mystery attached to his art form, can mess with minds. He could especially be tough for young guns like Saim Ayub and Shahibzad Farhan, who have not been reading spinners from their hands. Mohammed Nawaz, the left-arm spinner who is 30th in ICC rankings, is also considered no match for Axar Patel, one of the most valuable yet low-profile players in the Indian line-up.
Batsmen give India the edge
More than bowling, it is the batting line-up of India that makes Pakistan anxious. Gill, Abhishek, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube can vanquish any bowling attack on their day. When it comes to all-rounders, Faheem Ashraf cannot be compared to Hardik in terms of match-winning ability.
If India are wary of any one particular bowler in the Pakistan line-up, it is Shaheen, who had dismissed KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and some overs later Virat Kohli in a match-winning performance in a T20 World Cup group stage clash. But after his knee surgery, Shaheen is not on top of his game.
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