India vs Pakistan – Who looks stronger on Paper
The El Classico of international cricket is coming your way. Guy’s it’s India vs Pakistan again, one of the fiercest rivalries of world of cricket. With bilateral tensions between the two nations and political pressure has led these two powers of cricket to only play ICC tournament these days. The last time they met was in T20 world cup where Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets. India though has a lead over their arch rivals in the T20 format. Playing nine matches, India has won six and lost two while one was a tied match.
While Pakistan will be without the service of their leading paceman Shaheen Afridi who has sustained a knee injury, India will be without their spearhead and leading paceman Jasprit Bumrah who is out of action following a back injury.
The squads are out , the excitement is on, the tickets are sold out and now everyone is waiting for the toss to happen and the players joining the field with passion and pride on their sleeve. Though matches are played on the pitch and the stats don’t really matter, Let us compare the teams and see who is ahead in the statistics game
OPENERS
Pakistan –
Babar Azam – The number one T20 batsman has been on hot form and single-handedly helped his side to clean sweep Netherlands. With an impressive average of 45 in t20s and 2686 runs with a healthy strike rate of 130 in the game, Babar Azam proves to be the biggest threat for India. Who can forget the recent thrashing India got from Pakistan in the t20 world cup 2021 where Babar scored an impressive 68 out of 52 balls helping his side win by ten wickets
Mohammad Rizwan – The wicketkeeper batsman is in top 3 of ICC world rankings of best t20 batsmen and is a force to reckon with his powerful batting. With a 50 plus average in the game along with a healthy strike rate of 128 and 1662 runs with 13 fifties and a hundred , Indian bowlers need to be very careful and make sure that they don’t let the Pakistani opener score freely. His 79 of 55 balls in the last battle with India proved to be the most important innings where he helped his side beat India by ten wickets
India –
Rohit Sharma – The Indian skipper has to be one of the most pleasing to the eye batsmen in modern era of cricket. Playing 132 matches with a healthy average of 31.7, strike rate in 140s along with 27 fifties and 4 centuries, there is no doubt that Rohit Sharma’s name has been etched as one of the top batsmen in T20 cricket. Though recent form hasn’t been great, players like Sharma just need one good innings to get back in the game. With his hunger for runs and a revenge left to be taken, it will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma performs in this battle of the titans
KL Rahul – The 30-year player from Karnataka is just back from an injury and is roaring to go against Pakistan. With 56 matches under his belt and 1831 runs at a healthy average of 40.69 we can say that KL Rahul with his shots all around the corner make him the perfect choice for t20s. Being a top performer in IPL’s since the past decade, KL also has 16 fifties and 2 hundreds in International T20s . With a point to prove after his dismal performance last time when the two teams met, We can say that Kl Rahul is roaring to go and will be coming back with a bang in this Asia cup 2022
Number 3 –
Pakistan ( Fakhar Zaman ) – With 65 matches under his belt and 1253 runs at an average of 22.38, strike rate of 131.62 it feels like Fakhar has not played to his full potential and has lacked consistency. With seven fifties under his bag we are yet to see the best of Fakhar Zaman. All said and done he is a big match player and his century knock helped Pakistan beat India in the champions trophy 2017 which also helped him to earn Man of the match .
India ( Virat Kohli ) – King Kohli has a record that every batsmen in the world would dream of having in this modern version of cricket. In 99 matches, he has scored 3308 runs with a brilliant average of 50.12 hitting with a strike rate of 137.66 . A record that shows no sign of weakness, kohli though fighting hard for his form just needs one knock to become the best batsman he is. With a fighting fifty that saved India’s pride last time these two teams met and also having an all time average of 75 plus against Pakistan in all format of the game, Kohli knows how to perform in pressure and win matches for his team. The lion is ready to roar, beware Pakistan
Number 4 –
Pakistan ( Haider Ali ) – The right handed Pakistan batsman is one of the youngsters to look for in future of t20 format. With 21 matches and 406 runs at an average of 128.48 he has a decent start to his career. Consistency will help him to produce match winning innings for Pakistan and what better than their biggest rivals India to perform at the grand stage. With 3 fifties under his bag Ali must be hungry for runs and prove a point in this Asia Cup blockbuster match
India ( Suryakumar Yadav ) – The new MR 360 of India, Surya can hit orthodox shots all over the ground with ease. Being number 2 at the ICC T20 rankings, the year 2022 has been a year to remember for the right handed Mumbai Indians batsmen. A blistering hundred in England and series winning knocks against the west indies, he is in red hot form. With a strike rate of massive 175 in 23 matches with 672 runs, Suryakumar Yadav is here to stay and prove a mark in t20 cricket. With five fifties and a hundred to his name Yadav would surely want to increase this number and keep on breaking records. A blistering knock against Pakistan in Asia cup would be the perfect cherry on the cake .
Number 5 –
Pakistan ( Asif Ali ) – The right handed batsman is one of the talented hard hitting batsmen in Pakistan cricket. In 389 matches Ali has 435 runs at an average of 17.4 and a strike rate of 133.85 . He comes in crucial situations where the team needs a hard hitter who can easily cross the boundary rope. He will be an important man when the run rate required is high or when Pakistan needs to score big in the death overs. A match winner in making Asif Ali can help Pakistan win against India
India ( Rishabh Pant ) – The young and energetic Rishabh Pant has yet to prove his fire in t20 like his aura and match winning innings in test cricket. In 54 matches he has 883 runs with a highest of 65, consisting of three half centuries at a strike rate of 126.5 . Pant is a match winner in himself and has the ability to change the course of the innings with his blazing knock. Will the wicketkeeper come good and give India a win over their neighbours Pakistan. We get to see all the action on Sunday
Number 6 –
Pakistan ( Khushdil Shah ) – In 13 t20 matches Khushdil has scored 188 runs at an average of 23.5 and a strike rate of 107.43 . Though the numbers speak less, Khushdil has been a great find of PSL where he has scored big in crucial matches. The death over specialist will try to better his records and want to create an innings which will be etched in memories of fans of Cricket Pakistan
India ( Hardik Pandya ) – With the comeback of Kungfu Pandya as an allrounder, this Indian side looks very strong on paper. Hardik’s experience and power hitting has always been a plus for India as well as his consistent knack of taking wickets in the middle overs . In 67 matches played, he has scored 834 runs with an average of 23.17 and strike rate of 144.04. Along with this Hardik has 50 wickets with an average of 27.8 and economy of 8.28 . Will Hardik’s comeback be a major boost for India’s chances. Let’s wait and watch
Number 7 –
Pakistan – ( Mohammad Nawaz ) – The left arm orthodox is an asset in the shorter format for Pakistan. In 30 matches he has scored 123 runs with an average of 17.57 and a strike rate of 133.7 . A bowling allrounder, Mohammad has 30 wickets in as much matches at an average of 27.76 and economy of 7.15 . Nawaz with his different variations can create some trembles in the Indian batting line up and it will be an interesting battle to see him bowl to the Indian batsmen
India ( Ravindra Jadeja ) – One of the most prominent names in Indian cricket Ravindra Jadeja can do magic with the bat as well as the bowl. In 62 matches he has 422 runs at an average of 23.44 and strike rate of 124.85. In the bowling department Jadeja has 50 wickets at an average of 28.54 with economy of 7.13 . India will be banking on Jadeja’s all round prowess to take them on the winning line.
Number 8 –
Pakistan (Mohommad Wasim JR) – The right arm fast medium bowler can also hit some blows with his willow. In his new fresh career, He has 17 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 15.88 with best figures of 4/40 . With his knack of taking wickets at the right time Mohommad Wasim Jr will prove to be a threat for the Indian Batsmen .
( HASAN ALI Comes in for Mohammad Wasim Jr ) –
Hasan Ali – With 60 wickets in 49 t20 international matches, at an average of 23.15 the right arm medium has been a wicket taking bowler for Pakistan. Though his form has been pretty down and he is not the same bowler he used to be, still we can count on Hassan Ali to perform at the grand stage. He would want to put the recent past away from his mind and start freshly. A match winning performance will more or less seal his place for the upcoming t20 world cup
India ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar ) – With the absence of Jasprit Bumrah all the load of experience and leadership falls onto Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s shoulders. In 72 matches he has 73 wickets at an average of 23.44 and an impressive strike rate of 6.93 . Bhuvi is no mug with the bat asw he can hit some good runs with the willow. With his in swingers and out swingers Bhuvi can rattle any line up in the world. Will be a great battle against Babar
Number 9 –
Pakistan ( Haris Rauf ) – The leader of the Pakistan bowling attack Rauf brings in wickets with his raw pace and variations like slower balls and cutters. The right arm fast has 42 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 24.86 and economy of 8.51. With the absence of Shaheen Afridi Rauf will be zooming to action with all his experience and wanting to take wickets to rattle the Indian bowling attack. This will be a great battle to watch
India ( Yuzvendra Chahal ) – With 79 wickets in 62 matches the leg spinner is been doing wonders in the blue jersey. An average of 23.85 and economy of 8.1 shows that Chahal takes wickets in the middle overs and is not scared of getting hit over the park in his journey to out the batsman. His 6/25 proves that Chahal can rattle more than half of his side in his quota of four overs and if he can match his best figures then the opposition team is going to have a hard time scoring runs
Number 10 –
Pakistan (Naseem Shah ) – What looks like a dream debut for the 19 year old right arm fast bowler it will be great to see how he can soak in pressure against one of the top t20 teams in the world . While Naseem has proved his skills in Test as well as Odi format, It will be great to see him bowl in the shortest international format
India (Arshdeep Singh) – The IPL wonderboy Arshdeep is the find of last two season’s . With 9 wickets in 6 matches at a very impressive average of 14.56 and economy of 6.34 , It’s going to be a big challenge for Arshdeep to perform in his first India vs Pakistan battle . Very new to the international format this will give him enough experience with a full crowd stadium and a team which is high on confidence after their last encounter.
Number 11 –
Pakistan ( Mohammad Hasnain ) – Another new young sensation and a PSL find, Mohammad Hasnain will be wanting to perform against India. Though the line up looks a little weak in experience, there is no doubt that there is talent as well as skills to cover for lack of experience. In 18 matches he has 17 wickets at an average of 30 and a economy of 7.91.
India ( Ravi Bishnoi ) – India will be tempted to go with two leggies and see how they perform in the middle overs. The leg spinner has 15 wickets in 9 matches and a healthy average of 16.53 with an economy of 7.15. With Bishnoi taking wickets in every match he plays and his variation in bowling it’ll be interesting to see how Pakistani batsmen face the new talented bowler of IndiaIndia do have an upper hand when it comes to experience and statistics of individual players. But as they say, the game is not won on paper which Pakistan proved in their last meeting against their arch rivals India. With both teams raring to go and the Asia cup trophy on line it will be battle of Goliath vs Hurricane. Don’t forget to watch India vs Pakistan on 28th August and catch all the wonderful action happening on the field.