Asia Cup: Form, bragging rights on the line in India-Pakistan clash

25.08.2022 - 09:05 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Virat Kohli has the chance to find form before the World Cup while Babar Azam will look to keep Pakistan's psychological edge when the rival countries clash as the headline acts of the Asia Cup starting this weekend.

Cricket giants India and Pakistan could square up three times during the two weeks of the T20 competition in the United Arab Emirates.

Read AlsoAsia Cup 2022, India vs Pakistan: Watch out for these key player battlesIndia and Pakistan are set to clash in their Asia Cup opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on August 28.

TimesofIndia.com here looks at some of the key player battles that can be the difference between victory and defeat and what you need to watch out for.

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The Asia Cup final will be played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. India who were being touted as the favourites failed to make it to the final after winning just one game out of three while Afghanistan lost all of their Super 4 matches. However, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has now highlighted how toss played a big role in the tournament. He also highlighted that India lost tosses in their three Super 4 games while Afghanistan lost two.

"Surprised And Dejected": Ex-Pakistan Captain On Virat Kohli's Performance vs Sri Lanka In Asia Cup

India were dealt a major blow in the Asia Cup on Tuesday as Sri Lanka defeated them by six wickets. The loss came two days after Pakistan had defeated them in the first game of the Super 4 stage. In the match against Sri Lanka, India skipper Rohit Sharma's scintillating 41-ball 72 went in vain, as the islanders completed a chase of 174 with a ball to spare. Needing 21 in 12 balls, Sri Lanka scored 14 runs off the penultimate over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, almost sealing it in their favour. Barring Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav (34) none of the other batters could fire. Former India captain Virat Kohli was out for a duck and his performance did not impress former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Watch: "Maro Mujhe Maro" Guy's Reaction As India Falter Against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup

After a great run in the group stage, expectation were high from Team India at the Asia Cup 2022. However, after two straight defeats in the Super 4 stage to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, India are on brink of exit. India now have to rely on other teams' results, in order to qualify for the final. On Tuesday, India skipper Rohit Sharma's scintillating 41-ball 72 went in vain, as the Sri Lanka completed a chase of 174 with a ball to spare Needing 21 in 12 balls, Sri Lanka scored 14 runs off the penultimate over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, almost sealing it in their favour. India will be out of the tournament if Pakistan beat Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Asia Cup: Why Did Ravichandran Ashwin Replace Ravi Bishnoi In Crucial Clash vs Sri Lanka? Here's What Rohit Sharma Had To Say

India take on Sri Lanka in a crucial Asia Cup Super 4 encounter in Dubai on Tuesday and Rohit Sharma has made one crucial change in the playing XI with the seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin replacing young leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Ashwin has a tremendous record against left-handers and the Sri Lankans have quite a few southpaws in their team.

Asia Cup: Akram, Shastri, Gambhir question Pant's shot selection against Pakistan

Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram and Gautam Gambhir have criticised Rishabh Pant for his poor shot selection during India's five-wicket loss to Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Pant was dismissed off a googly by Shadab Khan, as he tried a reverse sweep, an attempt that experts found to be trifle indiscreet. The wicketkeeper-batter was premeditated and the execution was poor as the ball went straight into the hands of Asif Ali at backward point, resulting in his dismissal at a crucial juncture.

Watch: Virat Kohli Reaches Half-century With Classy Six vs Pakistan In Asia Cup

After a half-century against Hong Kong, Virat Kohli scored yet another 50-plus score against arch-rivals Pakistan in a Super 4 match of the Asia Cup on Sunday. What everyone wanted from India's top-order was a change in mindset and the strike rates of 175 (Rohit Sharma), 140 (KL Rahul) and 136 (Kohli) were a testimony to that. Skipper Rohit Sharma (28) and KL Rahul (28) were outstanding in the Powerplay while Virat Kohli (60) gave glimpses of his vintage self by playing one of his most sublime knocks in recent times to take India to a more than respectable total.