Administrators and politicians can indulge in a war of words over India’s tour of Pakistan next year, but when it comes to game plans, none of that affects the players. It is more about the strategies which keep the cricketers engaged.
To play or not to play four specialist pacers in their opening T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Melbourne is being debated upon as the team management seeks to finalise the playing XI.
The fickle Melbourne weather did make way for some practice for Rohit Sharma’s men on Saturday. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the probability of rain is lower during the match hours on Sunday.
It is the cold conditions that have prompted India to consider a four-strong pace attack and a spinner. Besides Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel could be the four pacers along with Hardik Pandya as an additional option. Axar Patel is expected to be the preferred choice among the spinners.
There is also a school of thought that three specialist pacers, plus Pandya, will serve the purpose. India could go into the match with four specialist bowlers in such a scenario to accommodate an extra batsman.
Five out of Pakistan’s top six will be right-hand batters, but they often use Mohammad Nawaz to break that pattern. Ravichandran Ashwin is unlikely to get a look-in. If a second spinner is preferred because of a dramatic change in conditions, Yuzvendra Chahal will play.
“I’ve been hearing about the Melbourne weather for a while now, and it keeps changing,” Rohit Sharma said at the match-eve media conference. “You don’t really know what is going to happen tomorrow (Sunday). The things that are in our control, we’ll try and control that. As simple as that.”
Pakistan captain Babar Azam also said they are hoping for a full game on Sunday. “Weather is not in our hands,” he said. “We want it to be a 40- over match, but whatever happens, we are prepared for it.”
If Pakistan enjoy a distinct advantage it has got to be in their pace attack with the return of Shaheen Shah Afridi. The way he almost sent Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz out of the World Cup with a toe-crushing yorker in a practice tie, showed he hasn’t lost out on accuracy and pace.
Much like last year’s clash in Dubai, how India’s top-order tackles his opening burst could decide the outcome.
One handicap for India could be the absence of a fast bowler who could hurl down thunderbolts at 140-plus consistently.
India-Pakistan battles have often been decided by tactical ploys or individual brilliance. The last two encounters, in the Asia Cup, went down to the wire with India winning the first with two balls remaining and Pakistan the second with one ball to spare. Expect another humdinger on Sunday.
