Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan most destructive opening pair: Sunil Gavaskar | Cricket News

India are on cruise control in the Asia Cup. Though they were stretched in the first game against unfancied Hong Kong, they upped their efforts and through their bowlers’ splendid efforts are now finding themselves with small targets to chase. There has been no respite for the opposition from India’s pacers, who have kept such a tight line and length that it’s been virtually impossible for the batsmen to break free. Then the spinners come on, while the batsmen get the odd big hit but get tempted for another one and are gone.

ALSO READ: Place in final at stake in second Indo-Pak face-off

Then there’s Kedar Jadhav, who with his various delivery points creates confusion as the batsmen try to line him up. To add to this attack there’s now Ravindra Jadeja, who has a point to prove to the selectors that he has what it takes to provide the team flexibility.

The skipper Rohit Sharma has been canny enough to realise that on these surfaces the slower bowlers will be far more effective than the quicker ones and so has used them smartly.

He also has a point to prove for his omission from the Test team and is doing it in his own classy style. There are few better sights in cricket than Rohit Sharma in full flow. Along with Shikhar Dhawan they make the most exciting and destructive opening pair in the world. Both complement each other and take the pressure off each other. Rayudu is shaping up well at number three and at four India have rotated between Dinesh Karthik and Dhoni.

Pakistan’s narrow win over Afghanistan will give them great heart, because narrow wins show the team’s character and determination to do well.

What they will want is a better start to their innings for against both India and Afghanistan they didn’t get that. Maybe after two failures, Fakhar Zaman will come good on Sunday. That will certainly be a new challenge for India. Shoaib Malik has shown what experience can do and if the Pakistanis stitch a big partnership then India may have to work harder than they have so far.

It’s an India versus Pakistan encounter and as we all know nobody can ever predict the result.