Cricket is a sport that thrives on rivalries. While IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash can be considered the main plot of the tournament, the subplot is the battle between Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s fast-bowling sensation Shaheen Afridi. Their rivalry has added a layer of excitement to the already intense clashes between India and Pakistan.
The duo will be up against each other for the third time. While Shaheen came on top in the first two encounters, the Indian skipper would be eager to take the third round.
Rohit’s Colombo Conundrum
Rohit Sharma, often regarded as one of the most elegant batters in modern-day cricket, has had his fair share of struggles in Colombo. The R. Premadasa Stadium has proven to be a daunting venue for the Hitman. In nine ODI matches played in Colombo, Rohit has managed to score just 196 runs at an average of just 24, a stark contrast to his overall batting greatness.
Facing Afridi’s Menace
Apart from overcoming the Colombo challenge, Rohit’s bigger challenge would be facing Shaheen Afridi. The 36-year-old is yet to conquer against the swing and pace of young sensation. Their battle started in the 2021 T20 World Cup when Afridi dismissed the Indian opener with the very first ball of the innings.
The young pacer bowled a pacy inswinging yorker which Rohit completely missed as he was trying to get the front leg out of the way to whip it through midwicket. He was caught plumb in front and departed on a golden duck.
Rohit then made few technical changes to his batting, including experimenting with his batting stance but he still couldn’t succeed. In the last encounter, Rohit was cleaned up as he tried to defend against the quick inswinging ball. The skipper was out for 11.
However, Rohit’s struggle is not just against Shaheen Afridi. The 36-year-old’s form against left arm pacers has been a big concern, especially since the 2019 World Cup.
Since 2019 World Cup, Rohit Sharma has been dismissed by left-arm pacers a total of seven times. He has scored 159 runs against them in 163 balls at an average of 22.71.
Rohit Sharma vs Left Arm Pacers Since 2019 WC
| Innings | Runs | Dismissals | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 159 | 7 | 22.71 | 97.54 |
As the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 clash looms on September 10, Indian cricket fans would be eagerly waiting for Round 3 of this captivating rivalry.
Key Factors to Watch
Pitch Conditions: Rohit will have to assess the conditions in Colombo carefully. An all defence approach or an all attacking approach can prove to be costly for the Indian skipper. Understanding the nature of the pitch and adapting his game accordingly will be crucial to his success.
Weather Conditions: Weather condition will play a crucial role as well. An overcast condition would give an added advantage to Shaheen who will find more swing from the pitch which could be tricky for Rohit to deal with.
Team India Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
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