Grew up watching Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma for the match winning six at Sharjah 1986 -- my first recollection of India vs Pakistan high voltage encounter. Next few years India regularly lost to Pakistan save & except Asia Cup 1988 at Dakha courtesy a five wicket haul for Arshad Ayub. Tables turned in 1996 when Jadeja taught a lesson to Waqar Younis on how not to bowl in slog overs. India has been dominating since. 2004 and 2006 series wins in Pakistan has merely strengthened our strangehold.
Todays game at Centurion though will have Pakistan as favourites thanks to injuries to Sehwag, Zaheer and Yuvraj. India appears to have a fairly weak non explosive batting line up. Ditto for Pakistan - lack of form of Younus, Misbah and Md Yousuf means fairly weak batting line up. The match clearly would be won by the better bowling up where Pakistan seems to have a clear edge with form of Umar Gul.
Having said this, India invariably has found someone putting their hand up in recent encounters and would not put it against someone like Ishant running thro Pakistan top order. My heart says India, head says Pakistan.
My India team today would be:, Sachin, Gambhir, Dravid, Dhoni, Raina, Pathan, Kohli, Bhajji, Mishra, Ishant, Nerha. Yup two spinners for the slow turner at Centurion Park. Amit Mishra is a relative unknown to Pakistan and certainly a better bet than out of form RP Singh (who seems to have support MS Dhoni !!)
ps: After more than one year England has won two sucessive ODIs! Wow. Watch out for British media claiming English team is best in the world
No comments:
Post a Comment