ODI: India vs Pakistan
When you analyse India’s overseas performance over the summer, it makes for far from ideal reading.
They suffered a 2-1 defeat in the one-day international matches followed by an embarrassing 4-1 test drubbing at the hands of England. Yet, there is little time for players to reflect on their miserable summer.
SBOBET cricket followers will tell you, however, that they remain the world’s number one test team, the second-best in the ODI rankings and second also in the T20 table.
Form is temporary, class is permanent.
Talking Points
It’s time for the Asia Cup 2018 and a meeting with arch-rivals Pakistan, who fared rather better against England earlier this year than India.
Indeed, this meeting in the United Arab Emirates could provide one of the Asia Cup 2018 highlights.
India have enjoyed much success in this competition to date—six triumphs compared to Pakistan’s two—yet it’s reported the side has received a wake-up call after a largely lacklustre showing with the bat on English soil.
Asian supremacy means so much to both nations, arguably even more so now that there is degrading relations between the two neighbouring countries.
With skipper Virat Kohli absent (due to excess workload) and Rohit Sharma filling in, opposing captain Sarfraz Ahmed will look to take advantage in Dubai where it is believed Pakistan could have an advantage in adapting to the conditions (the nation plays many of its games there).
One extra incentive for Pakistan will be that Babar Azam has the perfect chance to surpass Kohli in the ODI rankings where he trails his rival by 84 points.
With Kohli missing matches, much to the chagrin of one of the tournament broadcasters, he will also be deducted around 4.5 points per game so Azam and India’s nemesis have a golden opportunity.
The fact remains that Kohli is probably the biggest draw in world cricket right now, and he needs to be rested after that 84-day tour of England where he emerged as top run-getter with 593 runs in five tests.
After the host broadcaster expressed displeasure, stating how Kohli’s absence will impact the financial aspect of the coverage, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly told them their focus is to select the team and no outside interference will be allowed.
So who to watch out for?
In Mohammad Aamir, Pakistan have a world-class fast bowler; in Fakhar Zaman, a prolific opener; and in Hasan Ali, a solid all-rounder. Meanwhile, Azam and Haris Sohail need little introduction with the bat.
For India, this is a big tournament for the likes of Manish Pandey, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Shardul Thakur and Khaleel Ahmed, especially with one eye on next year’s World Cup.
Pakistan warmed up and established themselves as Asia Cup 2018 betting favourites by easing to victory over Hong Kong—who India meet 24 hours before this potentially high-voltage clash.
The 15-day tournament runs until September 28, but this may well be not the only meeting between these nations in this tournament.
History
This is their first encounter for 15 months when Pakistan inflicted an embarrassing 180-run defeat in the Champions Trophy Final at the Oval.
India will still be smarting about that. It was the largest winning margin between the countries in this form of cricket.
In this competition, their contests date back to 1984, the first year in which India won the tournament—success they matched in 1988, 1990/91, 1995 and 2010.
India and Pakistan have produced some crackers in their 11 meetings to date, with the former winning six times and Pakistan five.
Overall, Pakistan have the edge with 73 victories to India’s 52 in their 152 ODI encounters. Four have been tied.
A five-wicket victory for India in 2016 was one of the most notable recent encounters, as was Pakistan’s one-wicket win in 2014 when Shahid Afridi’s two sixes took them to a famous win.
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