New Delhi, June 4: The Indian cricket team kicks off their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on Wednesday, but the marquee matchup against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9th is already generating a lot of buzz.
Former Indian pacer S Sreesanth has urged Jasprit Bumrah to take down Pakistan’s openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, early on in the crucial encounter.
Since India and Pakistan don’t play bilateral series, fans eagerly await their clashes in ICC and ACC tournaments.
With the high-voltage match approaching, Sreesanth, during a chat on Star Sports, emphasized the importance of dismissing Pakistan’s prolific openers in the powerplay.
Sreesanth highlighted Bumrah’s role, suggesting he should open the bowling, especially against Pakistan.
He expressed concerns about Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh’s recent form, particularly their underwhelming performance in IPL 2024.
India’s bowling attack, barring the dependable Bumrah, lacks the confidence many expected. Both Siraj and Arshdeep’s struggles raise questions about their ability to effectively support Bumrah in the World Cup.
The team’s bowling performance in the initial matches will be crucial in revealing their true strength heading into the knockout stages.
Adding to the pressure, India’s pace attack will be under immense scrutiny as they begin their World Cup campaign.
If Bumrah can replicate Sreesanth’s advice and dismiss the dangerous opening pair early on against Pakistan, it could set the tone for a dominant Indian victory.
However, if Pakistan’s openers manage to weather the initial storm, the pressure will shift to the rest of the Indian bowling attack to restrict the run flow and pick up crucial wickets. On the other hand, Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif has cautioned Team India ahead of their high-profile T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on June 9th.
While India boasts a dominant record against their arch-rivals, Kaif identified Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah as potential game-changers.
India has enjoyed a near-perfect run against Pakistan in T20 World Cups, barring a loss in 2021. Notably, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82 in the 2022 edition secured a thrilling victory for India despite early setbacks. India’s dominance extended into the 2023 Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
Kaif acknowledged Pakistan’s batting vulnerabilities but warned against underestimating Zaman’s explosive potential.
“Their batting is a concern, but Fakhar Zaman can single-handedly change the game,” he said on Star Sports.
He highlighted the contrast in strike rates, with Zaman playing a more aggressive style compared to other Pakistani batsmen.
While downplaying the batting threat, Kaif emphasized the danger posed by Pakistan’s pace attack. He pointed out the absence of Naseem Shah in last year’s ODI World Cup and his potential impact on the bouncy New York pitch.
“Naseem Shah’s early spell in the Melbourne match could have been costly for India if the dropped catch at slip had been taken,” Kaif recalled.
The much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter will take place on June 9th at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. (Agencies)
