{"id":13793,"date":"2023-10-13T11:24:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T11:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/ravi-shastri-picks-key-players-for-india-pakistan-clash\/"},"modified":"2023-10-13T11:24:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T11:24:07","slug":"ravi-shastri-picks-key-players-for-india-pakistan-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/ravi-shastri-picks-key-players-for-india-pakistan-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravi Shastri picks key players for India, Pakistan clash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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India and Pakistan\u2019s meeting in Ahmedabad on Saturday 14 October is arguably the most anticipated match of the group stage of the ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup 2023, and Indian legend Ravi Shastri has pinpointed one key battle of the match.<\/p>\n

Shastri, who coached the India team as recently as 2021, says that the result of the high-profile encounter could hinge on one crucial new-ball match-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Shaheen Shah Afridi against the Indian openers (is important),\u201d Shastri said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a given that that\u2019s going to be the test, that it\u2019s going to be the challenge. Whoever wins that will go a long way towards dictating terms in that game.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is little wonder that Shastri believes Afridi\u2019s new-ball threat to be key, given that he was India’s head coach when the left-arm quick ripped out both of India\u2019s openers at the start of the dramatic meeting between the two nations at the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2021.<\/p>\n

Afridi had Rohit Sharma trapped in front for a golden duck off just the fourth ball of that match, and Shastri feels that Rohit\u2019s performance, as well as that of Virat Kohli, will be crucial to India\u2019s fortunes throughout this tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think at the top, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be key. If they both get going and one gets a hundred, I emphasise that 300, 320, 330, that is very much a possibility,” Shastri noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimilarly, from Pakistan\u2019s point of view, I think in this game, again it will be at the top. You want their captain to fire. Babar Azam has not had a great run of late, but if he starts firing, getting that 80-100 early doors in the tournament, it\u2019ll make his job as a captain a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just Afridi who captures Shastri\u2019s attention with the ball, with the 61-year-old naming the bowling partnerships he expects to impress the most as this World Cup continues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, because we know Bumrah is an x-factor, and if he gets it right he\u2019ll be a thrill to watch. And Siraj I think has come of age. He\u2019s one of the most improved bowlers in world cricket, and can do wonderful things with the ball, it comes naturally to him. He can swing it, he can seam it, he\u2019s got a great seam presentation. So I think these two will be great to watch if they\u2019re on song.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimilarly I would say Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Different bowlers, one will swing it, the other will hit the deck at pace. That will be an exciting combination because both can strike at any given stage of an innings \u2013 they can strike at the top, they can strike in the middle overs, and they can strike at the death.<\/p>\n

But Shastri has the home side as the favourites to take the two points in Ahmedabad.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying at home, just seeing man-for-man, I think India is a stronger side and they start off as favourites,” Shastri added.<\/p>\n

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