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India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 203 Playing XI: India begin their all-important white-ball season with a high voltage clash against Pakistan on Saturday in their Asia Cup opener. A fixture that may give us an insight into how well the team is/isn’t shaped up for the upcoming ODI World Cup.
A number of changes are expected in the lineup since their last ODI match against the West Indies in the three-match series that India won. The Indian Express looks at how the team may shape up for the upcoming fixture.
Rohit-Gill to open
Skipper Rohit Sharma would come out to bat after five wickets fell in the first West Indies-India ODI back in July. He was rested for the next two ODIs as Ishan Kishan opened with Shubman Gill and completed a hattrick of fifties, ending as India’s top run scorer in the series.
Come the Asia Cup though, it looks like Rohit will be back to opening alongside Shubman Gill. The duo were the first to take to the nets on the eve of the game, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar had made it evidently clear in the Asia Cup selection presser that Kishan was being looked at as a third opener – more so a middle order batter.
Kishan to keep wickets
Recent exploits for India in the 50-overs format have earned Kishan a rope in the Indian side just ahead of the World Cup. And a niggle to the recently recovered KL Rahul means he slots in as India’s first choice keeper batter.
Kishan was seen taking the attack to the Indian pacers in the nets on the eve of India’s Asia Cup opener. The southpaw would smack Mohammed Shami (two) and a throwdown for three consecutive sixes. By the looks of it, the southpaw may been sent in at number four-five to keep the run rate up despite the fall of wickets with the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja to follow.
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Shardul third seamer
Among those spotted in the nets, batting against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. With the conditions in Kandy more suited for the bowlers, as evidenced in the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match, India may be looking for more all-rounders in their lineup.
With his X-factor to nab wickets at crucial junctures and score runs lower down the order, Shardul Thakur sure fits the bill. His presence in the lineup
India predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav
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