Hardik Pandya, POTM: In bowling, it’s important to assess the situations and use your weapons. For me, bowling short and hard lengths have been my strengths. It’s about using them well and asking the right questions to make the batters commit a mistake. In a chase like this, you always plan over by over. I always knew that there is one young bowler and also one left-arm spinner. We only needed 7 off the last over but even if we needed 15, I’d have fancied myself. I know the bowler is under more pressure than me in the 20th over. I try to keep things simple.
Rohit Sharma: Halfway through the chase, we still knew that we can win irrespective of the situation. We had the belief and when you have that belief, these things can happen. It’s about giving clarity to the guys so that they know their roles well. It was a bit challenging but I’ll take wins like this anyday over usual victories. Yes, they (India’s pace bowling) have come a long way in the last year or so and they have adapted well to different situations. Since the time he (Hardik) has made his comeback, he’s been brilliant. When he was not part of the team, he figured what he needs to do to his body and his fitness regime, and now he is clocking 140+ easily. His batting quality we all know and it’s been brilliant since his comeback. He is a lot calmer now and more confident about what he wants to do, whether it’s with the bat or with the ball. He can bowl really quickly, we saw that today with those short balls. It was always about just understanding his game and he’s doing that well now. In a high-pressure with 10 rpo needed, you can panic but he never showed any of that.
Babar Azam: The way we started (with the ball), was great. We were about 10-15 runs short. Bowlers did really well to make a match of this. Our tail did step up a bit to add those handy runs. Thought was to take the game deep (and hold back Nawaz’s last over). Idea was to create pressure but Hardik finished well. He (Naseem) is a very young bowler but bowled so well, and showed so much aggression.
Ravindra Jadeja: We wanted to play till the end, they have a very good bowling attack, their fast bowlers don’t give anything away. I could have finished the game - left-arm spinner against left-hander, but Hardik played superbly. He (Pandya) came out and said he was going to play his shots, and happy that he stayed till the end.
Nawaz to Jadeja, OUT! Jadeja swings big and misses as the ball troubles the stumps! Jadeja’s valiant knock comes to an end as Dinesh Karthik walks in at 7. Is there some magic left in this one? DK gets a single first ball down to square leg. Hardik rocks back to smash through cover but finds the fielder. 6 needed off 3! Short ball and HARDIK PANDYA slams it over long-on for SIX - India beats Pakistan by 5 wickets!
Nawaz to ball the final over.
Hardik works the first ball down to deep mid-wicket for a single. Slower delivery on length and Jadeja dabs it to point for one run. Hardik lofts the ball streakily over cover and finds FOUR runs as Babar’s desperate dive goes in vain. Length delivery and Hardik pummels the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR more! FOUR to finish the 19th as Hardik goes ballistic once again. A majestic whip through mid-wicket once again as Rauf errs on length.
Hold on, folks. This is isn’t over yet as Rauf returns.
Naseem Shah begins with a wide delivery that flies over Jadeja. Naseem too is struggling with cramps. Slower delivery and Jadeja waits an extra second to smash it between cover and mid-off for FOUR. Naseem slices through Jadeja’s stance with a quicker delivery on length. He fights through cramps to find another dot delivery. Naseem to Jadeja, OUT! Wrapped on the pad and the umpire raises his finger. India reviews. Pitching outside leg and the decision is overturned, Jaddu survives. 27 needed off 14 and Jadeja muscles a length ball over long-on for SIX!
Five fielders in the 30-yd circle as Pakistan is penalised for the slow over-rate.
Rauf sends in a wide delivery first-up and Jadeja sneaks in a single. Rauf hits the deck and Hardik is beaten as he tries to slam the ball through cover off the back foot. Beaten again. Good pace and length from Rauf as Hardik aims to cut loose once again. Pressure creeping up on India. Hardik connects this time and fetches two runs with a slap down to deep cover. Rauf rushes Hardik with a short delivery and the batter finds a single. Rauf strays to the pads and concedes another wide. A wristy flick from Jadeja forces the square leg fielder to stretch, two runs added to the total.
Haris Rauf into the attack. He is struggling with cramps as he runs in.
Dahani hits the deck and Jadeja guides it down to third man for a single. Dahani continues to maintain a fine length. Hardik and Jadeja are content with some good running between the wickets. Dahani errs with a wide delivery to Jadeja and a midfield from Rizwan costs an extra two runs. A single to finish.
Naseem to Suryakumar, OUT! Cleaned him up. A rash heave across the line from Suryakumar casts his downfall. Naseem’s pace was a touch too fast to handle. Hardik in at 6. Naseem slides one to the pads and Hardik flicks it fine to get off the mark. Naseem bumps one in and Hardik smokes it through point for FOUR!
Suryakumar Yadav b Naseem Shah 18 (18b 1x4)
Naseem Shah returns
Dahani attempts an off-cutter and Suryakumar gently slices it past Rizwan for a single. Dahani rushes one down leg and Jadeja swings at it as the ball gushes past. Another appeal from Rizwan. The bowler and fielder prompt Babar for a review and they go for it. No deflections whatsoever on UltraEdge and Pakistan loses a review. Dahani continues to steam in and hit hard on the bat as he concedes just six from the over.
Suryakumar continues to keep himself busy with shots all across the ground. Shadab attempts to vary his lines but Surya pins the deliveries to the deep for singles.
Babar continues with his spinners. Nawaz slides one in and Jadeja waltzes the ball down the ground for a cracking FOUR! Seven runs come off the over.
Suryakumar and Jadeja nudge about the park for a couple of singles. Shadab strays to the pads and Surya unleashes a powerful sweep past square leg for FOUR.
Nawaz to Kohli, OUT! He’s given it away, again. Kohli charges Nawaz who sends in a quicker delivery. He ends up miscuing it straight to the long-off fielder and India finds itself in a spot of bother. Suryakumar is in at 5. He gets a single. Nawaz wafts one in and Jadeja dances down to thump the ball for SIX!
Shadab induces some turn as he slides one into Jadeja. Just three there runs from the over as Pakistan attempts to tighten the leash.
Kohli pushes a short ball down to long-off for a single. Rohit attempts a slog-sweep and the ball goes straight up and lands in between the square leg and deep mid-wicket fielder. Rohit mistimes another one as the ball rises high onto his bat. Kohli responds with a quick singles. And he connect this time. Rohit slams one over long-on for SIX - FIFTY up for India! Nawaz to Rohit, OUT! Rohit miscues another one and he holes out to long-off. A nothing innings from the skipper in the end. Well, well we have Jadeja in at 4.
Mohammad Nawaz into the attack
Shadab starts with a ball in the blockhole and Kohli digs it out. Shadab offers length and Kohli lobs one straight back to Rohit. The batters take a single off the deflection. Shadab wafts one in and gets a hint of turn as Rohit leans forward but is beaten again. Rizwan flicks the bails and there’s a referral. Rohit’s back foot is grounded neatly even as his sluggish start continues. A couple of singles to end the over.
Shadab Khan into the attack
Rauf pumps one in and Kohli pummels the ball handsomely over mid-wicket for FOUR. That’s a shot of confidence and authority as his hands move in a flash across the line. A single to follow. Rauf strays to the pads and the ball slips down leg for FOUR leg byes off Rohit. Rauf straightens his line and beats Rohit’s outside-edge once again.
Dahani gets a switch of ends. He sends the ball in straight and Rohit responds with a solid block. Short ball and Rohit heaves across the line and misses. Uncharacteristic start for both Rohit and Virat. A single follows. Full from Dahani and Kohli pounces on it in a flash. He throws his bat at it and the ball flies over point for FOUR. Short from Dahani and Kohli pushes the ball nimbly off the backfoot through cover for a single.
Rauf goes a shade outside the off-stump and beats Rohit on length. Rohit charges sheepishly and gets off strike with a tame shot to mid-on. Short ball and Kohli top-edges over the keeper for SIX. Rauf sends in a slower ball to the pads and Kohli nearly flicks it straight to the short fine-leg fielder’s hands.
Haris Rauf replaces Dahani
Kohli mistimes another length delivery as Naseem pushes the ball onto the stumps. He is still iffy with a hard press forward. Kohli and Rohit exchange strike with a couple of singles.
Kohli gets a dangerous inside-edge that nearly jags back to the stumps. In the air and Kohli miscues it over the mid-off fielder. Kohli’s living on the edge. Short ball and Kohli magestically creams it through mid-wicket for FOUR - a vintage pull shot! That should put him in some good stead.
Shahnawaz Dahani into the attack
Rohit gets off the mark with a single. Naseem to Rahul, OUT! A golden duck as he chops on. T20WC 2021 vibes, folks? Virat Kohli in at 3. Ooh! Some late swing after Naseem as Kohli leaves the ball on length. The ball treads perilously close to the off-stump. In the air and Kohli’s dropped at second-slip! He is off the mark with a flick to fine leg. Wide from Naseem and seems like Rizwan is in trouble as he saves a boundary. He clutches his leg and winces pain and we have a pause in the chase. A beauty from Naseem to finish and the ball whiffs past Rohit’s outside-edge. Loud appeal from the fielders and the umpire denies Pakistan. Babar and his boys discuss a review but they are timed out.
Back for the chase. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are the crease. Naseem Shah takes the new ball.
Arshdeep sends in a slower-ball and Rauf miscues it to cover and Rohit drops a tough chance over his head. Probably a bit late to react there as the ball lobbed past him. Dahani and Rauf scamper for some quick runs between the wickets. Slower-ball on length and Dahani slams it over mid-wicket for another SIX! Arshdeep to Dahani, OUT! The zing bails are sent flying as Arshdeep goes full to smash the stumps . Some respite for Pakistan as the lower-order fetched some late runs.
Shahnawaz Dahani b Arshdeep Singh 16 (6b 0x4 2x6)
India gets a penalty of having an extra man in the circle for the slow over-rate. Low full toss from Bhuvneshwar and Shadab flicks it over square leg for FOUR. Bhuvneshwar to Shadab, OUT! A masterful slower-ball on length squares up Shadab. Pakistan wastes a desperate review as India aims to wrap up the rest quickly. Naseem Shah in at 9. Another slow-ball and Shah’s trapped in front. OUT! The umpire raises the finger as Pakistan opts for another review. Replays suggest umpire’s call on wickets and Bhuvneshwar has two in two! Dahani defends the hat-trick ball and bludgeons the next length delivery for SIX over long-off.
Shadab Khan lbw b Kumar 10 (9b 1x4); Naseem Shah lbw b Kumar 0 (1b)
Arshdeep to Nawaz, OUT! This one’s a gentle length delivery that simply kisses the outside-edge on its way to the keeper. Arshdeep will be happy to enter the wickets’ column as Haris Rauf walks in at 8. Rauf picks up a slew of edgy runs. Arshdeep comes over the wicket and sends in a toe-crusher and a cheeky slower-ball. Excellent display of variations here from the left-armer as Pakistan struggles to find the fence. And right on cue, a rash heave fetches Rauf FOUR runs through mid-wicket. Mohammad Nawaz c †Karthik b Arshdeep Singh 1 (3b)
Arshdeep into the attack.
Bhuvneshwar to Asif Ali, OUT! Bhuvneshwar rolls in a leg-cutter and Asif miscues it straight to Suryakumar at long-off. Mohammad Nawaz is the new batter. Bhuvneshwar beats the blade with another delivery that jerks through.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns
Chahal is back. Asif Ali and Shadab Khan swat the ball across the turf and scrambles for quick runs. Eight runs off it as the leggie maintains a fine length.
Hardik to Rizwan, OUT! A crackerjack from Hardik bamboozles Rizwan. He attempts to wade out of another searing delivery with an arching upper-cut. The ball flies straight to third man and Avesh completes an excellent catch to send Pakistan into more trouble. Hardik to Khushdil, OUT! Hardik’s on fire with his bouncers tonight. Khushdil attempts to move out of another bouncer but taps it straight to deep cover. Pakistan’s in shambles as India stifles the batters with some cohesive effort. Hardik bowls out with splendid figures of 3-0-25-3.
Mohammad Rizwan c Avesh Khan b Pandya 43 (42b 4x4 1x6)
Avesh sends in a cracking delivery that seams past the left-handed Khushdil’s blade. Short ball from Avesh and Khushdil gets off strike with a tap to cover. Low full-toss and Rizwan slaps it through extra cover for FOUR. Change of pace from Avesh and Rizwan misses out on his heave with the ball keeping low. A single to end the over.
Avesh replaces Jadeja
Hardik to Iftikhar, OUT! A cracking bouncer from Hardik brings the breakthrough! The batter is left with no choice but waft at it as Hardik directs the ball in sharply towards the head. Khushdil Shah in at 5. Hardik rushes one into the pads and Khushdil gets off strike with a leg bye. A superb over from Hardik, just three runs besides the wicket from it.
Ayan from Dubai: “Pandya comes back for his new spell and immediately and bounces out Ahmed. Pandya has stuck to the short ball ploy religiously. In three overs, he has operated between good length and short length. Four years ago , during an Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Dubai, Pandya was stretchered off. And here he is today.”
Iftikhar Ahmed c †Karthik b Pandya 28 (22b 2x4 1x6)
Hardik returns
Chahal drags the ball wide of off-stump and Iftikhar slams it on one knee over Hardik at long-on for SIX. Chahal rushes one in and Iftikhar lobs one straight back. Chahal fails to latch on it and that will go down as dropped chance!
Jadeja flattens his length and Rizwan gets a rare loosener to cash in on. He slashes it past point for FOUR as his strike rate climbs past 100 again. Short once again and Rizwan jabs it to deep mid-wicket for two runs. Rizwan needs to get a move on quickly as Pakistan’s run-rate continues to linger under 7.
Chahal mixes up his lengths to both batters, not giving away room. Rizwan and Iftikhar maintain their restraint and negotiate in singles. Pakistan’s feeling the heat to raise the scoring rate.
Some guile from Jadeja as he produces a corker off the shorter length. The ball spins sharply to freeze Rizwan deep into his crease. Four runs from the over as Jadeja skims through a tight over.
Jadeja replaces Hardik
Rizwan brings out the sweep straightaway against Chahal for a single. Short and a touch too wide and Iftikhar rocks back to cut through point for FOUR. Eight runs from the over.
Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack
Hardik continues to push the ball in hard onto the deck. Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed exchange strike with a couple of singles. A hint short from Hardik and Iftikhar pummels the ball off the backfoot through cover for FOUR. FIFTY up for Pakistan with a single.
Length on offer and Rizwan whips it over mid-wicket for a massive SIX! Shoddy start from Avesh as he follows up with another loose delivery which is easily thumped through cow corner for FOUR. Rizwan nudges the ball past point for a single. Avesh to Fakhar, OUT!! What’s happened there? Fakhar starts walking back before an appeal from the Indians. A fiery bouncer there from Avesh. It shot up quickly to stun Fakhar as he gently wafted his bat outside the off-stump.
Avesh Khan into the attack
Hardik goes full and Zaman latches onto it with a crisp drive, through extra cover for FOUR. A fine response from Pandya as he straightens his line and gets an outside-edge down to third man. Rizwan shuffles across and guides a length delivery through mid-wicket for two runs. Hardik bumps one short and Rizwan fails to connect on a swivel pull. Hardik squares up Rizwan with a cracking fuller delivery to finish the over.
Ayan says from the venue: “The lack of swing and minimal seam movement has perhaps encouraged the Indian new ball bowlers to target Pakistan’s top order with the short ball strategy.”
Hardik replaces Bhuvneshwar
Arshdeep continues to keep Rizwan on his toes. A touch to full and across this time and Rizwan glides it past backward point for FOUR. FIVE dots in the over from Arshdeep. India has managed to pile the pressure on the Pakistan top-order.
Babar advances and a subtle change of pace from Bhuvneshwar prompts the PAK skipper to lean forward for a nudge to cover. A sharp throw from mid-off prompts Babar to stretch hard for the single. Bhuvneshwar continues to maintain a tight line of attack around the stumps. Bhuvneshwar to Babar, OUT! A cracking bouncer from out of nowhere and Babar holes out to short fine-leg. Excellent change-up from India’s spearhead to shun the Pakistan captain. Fakhar Zaman in at 3. A bouncer first-up from Bhuvneshwar has Fakhar in splits as he nicks it over the keeper for FOUR.
Arshdeep offers a couple of wide deliveries but also gets a couple of sharp deliveries across the turf, beating Babar’s outside-edge. Arshdeep overpitches and Babar creams it down the ground for another FOUR!
Arshdeep Singh from the opposite end
Bhuvneshwar’s on the money with a sharp outswing first-up to Rizwan. Wrapped on the pads and given by the umpire! Rizwan goes up for a review. The ball was seemingly missing the off-stump from the shorter length and the replay suggests the same - wickets missing, Rizwan survives! He flicks the second ball to mid-wicket for a single. Bhuvneshwar goes fuller and Babar starts with a sumptuous drive the ground for FOUR! Babar punches through cover for a single. Bhuvneshwar whiffs past Rizwan’s leading outside-edge and there’s a loud appeal from the bowler. India reviews and loses it as the replays suggest clear daylight between bat and ball.
And we are underway. Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes the new ball. Rizwan and Babar Azam open the Pakistan innings.
The players line up for the national anthems.
India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
Pakistan XI: Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani
TOSS: India wins the toss, opts to bowl
Captains speak
TOSS COMING UP......
“This is a proper turf pitch where there’s a lot of grass. In this match, it’s going to be more about bowling rather than batting. It’s the same pitch as yesterday. All the grass is in clusters, that means the ball will definitely seam around. It won’t be as much as yesterday but there will still be quite a bit for the fast bowlers. No-brainer, win the toss and bowl first,” analyses Sanjay Manjrekar and Wasim Akram.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh have been seen marking their run-ups. The third bowler could well be a toss-up between Avesh Khan and R Ashwin.
“Teams are having their respective huddles. Kohli had a brief throwdown session. Indian bowlers haven’t marked their run up yet. Bit of grass on the pitch,” - our correspondent Ayan Acharya reports from the stadium.
Live visual have Virat Kohli having a chat with coach Rahul Dravid who has assumed charge of the side right in time after recovering from COVID-19.
Rohit Sharma will be the catalyst for India in the PowerPlay with the bat. Rohit has the highest strike-rate among openers in the world in the first six overs in 2022 (147.82).
India’s playing XI composition remains a mystery. Here’s some inputs from our correspondents on what they think that would best India’s new approach in T20Is.
Virat Kohli is set to become the second cricketer and the first Indian to play 100 matches in all formats with his milestone T20I appearance. Will we ever see another cricketer join this elite list?
Predicted XIs
IND vs PAK in Asia Cup record: Matches Played - 14; India won - 8; Pakistan won - 5; NR - 1
⦿ Highest team total (India) vs Pakistan: 330/4, 2012 ⦿ Highest team total (Pakistan) vs India: 329/6, 2012 ⦿ Lowest team total (India) vs Pakistan: 169 all out, 1995 ⦿ Lowest team total (Pakistan) vs India: 83 all out, 2016 - T20I
India and Pakistan have met 200 times in international cricket across formats, the last of which was played in the T20 World Cup in 2021.
Pakistan enjoys a much better head-to-head ratio against its archrival in the United Arab Emirates. Out of the 29 matches played (ODIs, Tests and T20Is combined), Pakistan has won a whopping 20. 24 of these matches were played in Sharjah, two in Abu Dhabi and three in Dubai.
Cast your votes, folks. Who do you think will come out on top tonight?
It’s “incredibly hot” in Dubai, says our correspondent Ayan Acharya from the venue.
The fans have begun to gather outside the venue, four hours before start of play. | Photo Credit: Ayan Acharya
India has a poor record against Pakistan in the UAE, having won only 35 percent of its games there. More on the stats.
Hardik Pandya’s career will hit one full circle when he takes the field on Sunday. After being stretchered off at the same venue four years ago against the same opposition with a back injury, the India all-rounder has finally returned to his best.
PREVIEW
India takes on Pakistan in its Asia Cup 2022 campaign opener at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Ahead of the big-ticket clash, India had two high-intensity training sessions on Thursday and Friday, followed by optional nets on Saturday.
Here are the main takeaways:
Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dig in
All three had extended runs. Pandya rolled his arm in the Dubai heat. These were not half-hearted throwdowns with short runups. These came at full pace, from across the whole 22 yards. He adjusted according to batter’s weaknesses and the conditions. Facing him were Rohit and Kohli, who batted together in the nets for close to half an hour. During Saturday’s pre-match press conference, Rohit dispelled the idea that the two batting together indicated they were going to open. “Our batting coach decides who bats in which nets,” he said.
Both batters did not mind the short balls served by Pandya, quickly moving outside the line of the ball to pull it for boundaries.
Kohli and Rohit’s contrasting methods
Kohli shed his risk-averse nature to take on the spinners from the get-go. He struck multiple big hits in the V. Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal weren’t spared. Kohli used his feet more often, and even attempted a reverse paddle off Chahal, a shot he doesn’t play much. The sweep in front of square also made a fleeting appearance.
Rohit, at the other end, took his time before tearing into anything that was pitched short. He kept depositing the bouncers out of the ground, often leading to animated shouts of “watch, watch” as a couple of balls landed perilously close to the press corps following the training. He also faced Delhi’s left-arm pacer Siddhant Sharma briefly, possibly to work on his weakness against left arm pace — he has been out 19 times to that variety of bowling. Pant, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, and Pandya took their turns with the bat as well.
India vs Pakistan squads and predicted XI
Predicted XIs
When and where to watch the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2022 match?
The IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2022 match will be live streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and Star Sports network from 7:30PM IST.
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