T20 World Cup 2022, IND vs PAK Preview: India have an all-round team, start as favourites

It’s here finally. The big match. The Mother of all clashes, as they like to put it. The India vs Pakistan cricket spectacle. And at the biggest of stages which is the T20 World Cup 2022. The buildup to an India vs Pakistan match is usually massive and this time is no different. The archrivals don’t play often against each other and this time there’s an added perspective to the game. Till last year, India dominated Pakistan in the World Cups. But that is no more the case. With Pakistan stopping their losing spree against India in the mega events last year, it is the Men in Blue’s turn to return the favours by winning this clash on Sunday.

These two sides have their strengths and weaknesses respectively but who holds an edge over the other going into the contest? Let’s discuss here.

India favourites, here’s why!

Pakistan, to me, are an interesting side. They can be quite inconsistent one day and then brilliant the next day. If they can get Shaheen Shah Afridi back in the lineup, which looks like the case to me as he has been bowling in the nets in Brisbane, they will certainly be strengthened. If he plays, that is a big plus for Pakistan. Of course, the opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan holds the key as well. We all know what they have done together in the past. They are brilliant in partnerships and the world witnessed it even last year vs India in Dubai, when they packed a punch to win the game for their side by 10 wickets. I think something of that order will need to happen again for Pakistan to be in the contest.

There is a reason to why I say this. When I look at the Indian side, even when they are without their match-winner pacer Jasprit Bumrah, they still look to be the better team. Bumrah is missing but there are many reliable options for India like Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, and of course Mohammed Shami. He was brilliant in that last over in the warm-up game vs Australia. It is very exciting to see Shami get the yorker length right from the word go as he was coming into this match after a long layoff due to Covid. He is a go-to guy both with the new and old ball and has improved a lot since the last World Cup. His IPL 2022 show is a testament to the same.

Then you look at India’s top-order and the first thoughts will be that this is an exciting batting lineup. There’s KL Rahul, captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and then Suryakumar Yadav. That is just simply outstanding. Dinesh Karthik, with the revival in his career, making a big statement that I want to be in this Indian side for the T20 World Cup and the way he transformed himself to be a finisher is phenomenal. Of course, the debate goes on and on between him and Rishabh Pant. On one hand, Pant is an exciting player, amazingly talented, has 360 hitting power and is a left-hander. On other hand, you have Dinesh who is a better keeper and now a finisher. The
tough thing is to choose between them. You cannot play both as then that will affect the bowling balance. At the moment, Dinesh probably gets the nod to maintain the right balance.

And how can you even forget someone like Hardik Pandya, who too has been in good form in the recent past.

Pakistan’s middle order a big concern

India’s balance is quite nice and that is what gives them advantage over Pakistan whose middle order batting has really struggled. All of them in the middle order have been very inconsistent. They have not scored at a fast enough rate. Their strike rate has let them down, especially in the death overs.

That is why I feel that even though Pakistan beat them in T20 World Cup 2021 and even recently at Asia Cup, India have a more balanced unit going into the match. One other thing to be considered is that these are not sub-continent conditions. This is not Dubai, this is the Melbourne Cricket Ground. There are bigger boundaries and it’s a very different story playing in Australian conditions.

India look to be the favourites going into the match given their form and how they are more equipped to deliver with their very, very exciting batting lineup and variety of bowlers. However, you cannot take Pakistan lightly ever. They can be very dangerous on their day. If you take them lightly, do it at your own peril.

In a way, this is yet again a contest between Pakistan’s pace bowling vs Indian’s star-studded batting. There’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah who will be bowling to Rahul, Rohit, Kohli and Surya. That is exciting. Pace in Australia up against a very stylish and dynamic batting top order of India. That will be a mouth-watering contest.