Pakistan's captain Sarfraz Ahmed (left), India's Dinesh Karthik (right) and Ambati Rayudu leave the field at the end of the Group A Asia Cup match on Wednesday. (AFP)
Dubai - The Indian team management might be tempted to make changes to the team
Published: Thu 20 Sep 2018, 11:22 PM
Last updated: Fri 21 Sep 2018, 1:42 AM
At a time when the continent's cricket administrators have received brickbats for allegedly bowing to the demands of the cash-rich Indian cricket board in Asia Cup, Rohit Sharma's men have been showered with praise after their resounding win over bitter rivals Pakistan - their second win in two days in challenging weather conditions.
Yes, the part-timers from Hong Kong gave them the biggest scare of their life on Tuesday night, but India returned next day under the sweltering sun and reduced Pakistan to ashes in a ruthless display of aggression with bat and ball.
Now, it remains to be seen if the Virat Kohli-less India can carry that momentum into the Super Four Stage when they take on Bangladesh in Dubai on Friday.
Injuries to Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel have given a rare chance to Ravindra Jadeja, who hasn't played in the 50-over format since July 2017, to revive his one-day career. Jadeja will be desperate to remind everyone in the dressing room of his ability with the white ball.
The team management might be tempted to make changes to the team after having played those two games in two days.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will hope to change gears when they play their first Super Four Stage game against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Sarfraz Ahmed's team failed to find their top form in the big clash against India. Their batsmen made silly mistakes and their bowlers were savaged by Rohit's breathtaking strokeplay.
Coach Mickey Arthur knows the Men in Green have a tough task at hand against an Afghan team that play fearless cricket and possess some of the best slow bowlers in the limited-overs game today.
After their embarrassing defeat against Afghanistan, Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews admitted that any team can upset the big boys on these slow wickets in the UAE.
India and Pakistan - the two top guns - know they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas.
India, the six-time Asian champions, will be concerned about their middle-order and the form of a certain MS Dhoni.
Dhoni is now a shadow of the batsman that gave India their second World Cup title with a sublime 91 in the final against Sri Lanka in 2011.
The 37-year-old wicketkeeper batsman has scored just 79 runs in five matches this year.
Failure to deliver in pressure situations now will only put more pressure on this giant, especially after that majestic hundred by the 20-year-old Rishabh Pant in the fifth Test against England.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
