Asia Cup 2022: Steady Indian batting unit ready to battle for continental supremacy

The dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place later this year, begins for India as the side commences the Asia Cup 2022 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai.

The two teams are back to a territory that witnessed history being re-written and the records going for a toss. The last time when India and Pakistan played each other was also at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India’s winning streak against the neighbours in World Cup fixtures was broken here. Pakistan thumped Men in Blue by 10 wickets in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

A lot changed in the Indian camp, post that tournament. Rohit Sharma is now the Indian skipper, Rahul Dravid is the head coach (Though, he hasn’t travelled with the team to UAE after testing positive for COVID-19 and will only join the side when he tests negative). Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant have given captaincy auditions, and quite evidently an aggressive approach has taken the front seat as far as batting is concerned.

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But the real test starts now.

The Rohit-led side will be up against a challenge, not just on the field but off it too. A poor result here and there would attract criticism which the side certainly wouldn’t want considering the mega ICC event is lined up in October-November.

An Indian batting unit is always a star-studded one and it’s the same for this edition of the Asia Cup as well. The likes of Rohit and Virat Kohli are back in the line-up. KL Rahul made a comeback to the XI in the Zimbabwe series after a long injury layoff and is fit to play now.

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Players like Hardik, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh and Ravindra Jadeja can turn the match on its head on their day while Deepak Hooda has already marked his presence in a very short span of time at the highest level.

So, before the Indian team begins the tournament, we take a look at the pros and cons of this immensely talented and stable batting unit.

Opening duo!

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul don’t need an introduction. Each and every bowling department understands how dangerous this pair can be once they get into the groove and find the rhythm.

A war of words had started when Pakistan bowler Shaheen Afridi was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury. The left-arm pacer had rattled India’s top-order during the last outing in the T20 world Cup 2021. His three scalps included the dismissals of India’s top three, Rohit, KL and Kohli.

It’s believed that absence of Shaheen Afridi has let India’s top three breathe easy. Well, not to deny, they have faced issues against the left-arm pacers but no one can really write them off.

Recently, on his trip to the Caribbean islands, the Indian captain did face disappointment on one occasion when he was undone for a first-ball zero but not to forget he scored 16-ball 33 and a 64 off 44 deliveries as well, the knocks decorated with some fine pulls, hooks and drives.

Hello DUBAI