India will start as favourites but need middle-order stability and a fully fit Abhishek Sharma to maintain domination over Pakistan when the two arch rivals clash in the T20 World Cup’s marquee fixture in Colombo on Sunday (February 15).
A temporary ‘peace season’ has dawned after Pakistan made a U-turn from their boycott stand and agreed to take the field against India at the R Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka. When it comes to T20 World Cup clashes, India have dominated Pakistan, with a 7-1 head-to-head record.
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It came after weeks of intense parleys that involved the International Cricket Council (ICC), 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 – fans and bank balance alike.
So, a train of events set off by the BCCI-instructed release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the roster of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which so transformed into a cross-border crisis has come to a halt, for now.
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On their part, cricketers from both 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.
Will Abhishek and Kuldeep play?
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, then 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 Premadasa pitch. That nature of the track in Colombo might also 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 batter and the unfortunate one missing out could be Rinku Singh.
Bringing in Kuldeep is also a massively 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.
Middle-order stutter
In the run-up to the World Cup, the Indian batting line-up resembled a bulldozer rolling down a slope, crushing everything in its path.
But the two matches in the marquee event so far have revealed a mild concern – a propensity to lose wickets in a cluster.
India slid to 77 for six against the USA at Mumbai, while the home side lost five for four against Namibia in the death overs, but its impact was masked by a 200-plus total and a large 93-run victory at New Delhi.
On both those occasions, India were propped up by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya.
But a collective effort is needed to win a long tournament like this, rather than repeatedly relying on individual brilliance.
With four points in the kitty, the management would not be overly concerned about it, but they certainly would not want another show of profligacy because Pakistan have the capacity to exploit it.
The Pakistan threat
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.
The pitch at the Premadasa Stadium has been a speed-sucker and the 2009 champions have five capable spinners in their ranks — 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 batters would be an intriguing sub-plot of the showdown.
Pakistan’s batters, led by the irrepressible Sahibzada Farhan, who seemed to have gotten a grip over Jasprit Bumrah during last year’s Asia Cup, Ayub, and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf can pack a punch on their day.
Without any disrespect to the Netherlands and the USA, they are yet to be tested by a quality bowling unit and India possesses one.
From Bumrah to Varun Chakravarthy, India have proven match-winners in their den and even pace all-rounder Shivam Dube has improved leaps and bounds as a bowler in recent times.
It gives the defending champions immense flexibility while deciding combinations.
But all calculations aside, this match is all about finding that mental equilibrium and rise above multi-pointed pressures – external and internal.
Chance of rain?
The Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology has cautioned of a developing low-pressure point over Bay of Bengal, which potentially can mean up to 70 per cent chance of rain in the Khettarama area on Sunday evening.
Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (captain), 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 (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq.
The match starts at 7 pm IST
(With agency inputs)
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