Match Details
Date: 28 August 2022
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Dubai International Stadium
Ball-by-ball commentary: SportsTiger App
Preview:
Ditch that friend who proposes to go shopping this Sunday evening. Girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen, it is India vs Pakistan on August 28, coming your way live from the Dubai International Stadium. As destiny would have it, the match has been scheduled at the same venue where the two teams met last. But while it was Pakistan who had registered a dominant 10-wicket win over India on that occasion, India would be eager to avenge that loss. India seem to have a good preparation in the build-up to the Asia Cup but it takes a few balls to change the complexion of the match in this format. Who will have the last laugh this time around? We shall find out on Sunday.
Pitch Report:
The team winning the toss might look to bowl first going by the statistics at this venue. In the T20 World Cup matches at this venue last year, only 1 out of 13 games was won by the team batting first. The average first innings total in the last 3 T20Is at this venue is 160 which suggests that this could well be a high-scoring game. Pacers have scalped more wickets and tend to get some purchase from the surface but a quality spinner will also be in the game. Overall, a sporting wicket is expected in what is the start of the cricket season in this part of the world.
Team Analysis:
India:
On paper and on reputation, this is as a good a side as any in world cricket. It has the potential to emerge as a champion side and beat any opponent. However, on current form, India's top order looks a bit scratchy. While KL Rahul did not look at his fluent best after making a comeback post a surgery in the Zimbabwe tour, Virat Kohli hasn't been at his best either and last played an international match over a month ago. Meanwhile captain Rohit Sharma has provided quickfire starts to India but hasn't gone on to convert them into big totals.
Having said that, the middle and lower order as well as the bowling attack looks solid for the Men in Blue. With match winners like Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya featuring in the middle order, there is less to worry about in that area. In the bowling too, Yuzvendra Chahal could be an important factor along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The only negative at this moment looks like a lack of experience among other pace bowling options in Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh but with Hardik Pandya bowling as well, only 1 among these two might be needed in the Playing XI with spinners bowling the remaining overs.
SportsTiger Playing XI of India
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja/Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan/ R Bishnoi
Pakistan:
By contrast, Pakistan's top order has been in exemplary form. Babar Azam's reputation is on the rise as a world-class batter and Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan have been consistently scoring runs as well. However, while India's middle order seems to their forte ahead of this match, the Men in Green may struggle if India get past Pakistan's top order.
Moreover, among their bowlers too, there is no left-arm pacer which has been an Achilles heel for India in the past. Another major difference is that while India have a habit of resting Jasprit Bumrah from time to time and they have played without him, Pakistan might miss their premium pacer Shaheen Afridi more than India would miss Bumrah. Haris Rauf and the likes of Hasan Ali would have to produce memorable spells to test this Indian batting.
SportsTiger Playing XI of Pakistan
Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Match Prediction:
Conclusion:
Pakistan may have registered a one-sided win over India in their last encounter but it would be a tough ask for them to challenge this Indian lineup. Moreover, India would have learnt their lessons from that encounter and would play with a fearless mindset, something which captain Rohit has laid emphasis on in his press conferences. So India are predicted to win this match.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the author’s point of view. They neither reflect the opinion of SportsTiger nor advise anyone to make any prediction based on this. SportsTiger does not assume any responsibility and liability for the same.
