Amid the still-smouldering embers of an impasse that mixed cricket with politics like never before, India will need middle-order stability and a fully fit Abhishek Sharma to maintain domination over Pakistan when the arch-rivals clash in the T20 World Cup's marquee fixture here on Sunday after Pakistan made a U-turn from its boycott stand and agreed to take the field against India at the Premadasa stadium here.
It came after weeks of intense parleys that involved the International Cricket Council, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Practically, the whole of South Asia was turning the wheel to make this match happen, should the weather gods allow, because of its power to attract millions of fans and bank balance alike.
On their part, cricketers from both the teams have also tried to temper down the accompanying swirl of hype, terming this match as just another game in the calendar. It’s hard to fathom the precise nature of their thoughts in that regard, but certainly both sides do not want the result to go against them because of the frenzy of negativism it can kick up. For that, they will have to push the thoughts of a fan backlash behind and focus on the more controllable factors.
For India, the worries start with Abhishek as he was forced to skip the match against Namibia with a stomach bug that needed hospitalisation. If he is not available, India have the option of either sticking with Sanju Samson or bringing in a fit-again Washington Sundar to open with an on-song Ishan Kishan. Washington can also offer an off-spin option on the slow and tacky pitch.
That nature of the track here also might prompt the management to bring in left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. But the inclusion of Kuldeep will have to come at the expense of a batsman and the one missing out could be Rinku Singh. Bringing in Kuldeep is also a tantalising option because of his hold over Babar Azam, and he also had fine figures of 4 for 30 in the Asia Cup final at Dubai, his last outing against the cross-border rivals.
The Pak challenge
Keeping up with the hybrid model chalked out last year, Pakistan have been stationed in Colombo, and it has given them a better understanding of the pitch and conditions here. The pitch at the RPICS has been a speed-sucker and the 2009 champions have five capable spinners in their ranks, including Usman Tariq, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz.
Tariq's side-arm stop and pause action has already become the talk of the town and battle with the versatile Indian batsmen would be an intriguing sub-plot of the showdown. Pakistan's batsmen led by the irrepressible Sahibzada Farhan, who seemed to have got a grip over Jasprit Bumrah during last year's Asia Cup, Ayub and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf can pack a punch on their day.
The match will start at 7 pm.
Also read: Indo-Pak T20 WC: Flight prices to Sri Lanka surge
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