The two arch rivals India and Pakistan will meet today in their first league match of the Asia Cup at the National Stadium in Karachi. The last match between India and Hong Kong (on Wednesday) was nothing much than an one-sided encounter where India registered its second highest margin of victory (256 run) by bowling out the novice Hong Kong team for mere 118 in 36.5 overs.
Though the match against Hong Kong was not of that light but India no doubt looked the best in the fray and taking a good batting practice by its top five batsmen, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would like to avenge their defeat in the Bangladesh tri-series final.
Batsmen Suresh Raina, blistering Virendre Sehwag, Gambhir and Dhoni have signalled their clear intention before the big clash that they are ready to take on the challenge even without the absence of the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Indian team, full of young talent, are well aware of the ‘pressure cooker’ situation demonstrating their brilliance in the lately finished Indian Premier League. Moreover, both the opening batsmen along with Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma look in good hands in middle order certainly add fire on to the batting slot.
Leaving the games against newcomer UAE and Hong Kong, the real contest is between the best three: India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Despite the absence of veteran master blaster Sachin, the wall Dravid and aggressive Sourav, there is enough to generate buzz around the stadium, be it some talented youngster, Dhoni's captaincy or the recent surprising victory of Pakistan over India in Dhaka.
Although Pakistan is short of its best bowler along with a bad patch opening stand or the form of its crucial batsmen like Afridi at crunch, but the only thing Team India shouldn't over estimate that Pakistan is at home and they have always performed their best in critical games.
At present, one can easily assess the performance of Dhoni and Shoiab Malik as captain but together as a team, India in recent days has emerged as the best. Bowling though comparatively inexperienced, but will be at front in the presence of Irfan Pathan, who is unlikely to play due to some fitness issue. However as skipper Dhoni said, variation and keeping a good line and length would be crucial.
No doubt, the match would be a close affair keeping two well-balanced sides at familiar conditions in the subcontinent. But the better team which play at the only day in entirety will have the last laugh.
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