India vs Pakistan Strong Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023: The Asian Cricket Council recently unveiled the official schedule for Asia Cup 2023, and cricket fans all around the world are eagerly anticipating the India vs Pakistan clash – the first time they meet since T20 World Cup 2022.
The epic India vs Pakistan match at Asia Cup 2023 shall take place on September 02, Saturday at Kandy, Sri Lanka.
With just a month left until the epic clash, the most pressing question on everyone’s mind is the player selection. While the official 15-member squads for both teams are yet to be announced, we have a fair idea of the players who are likely to feature in the playing 11 for this highly anticipated encounter.
As Asia Cup 2023 will be played in a 50-over format, the excitement is bound to reach new heights, with both teams vying to present their strongest 11 ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023.
India vs Pakistan Strong Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023:
Openers: Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill vs Imam Ul-Haq & Fakhar Zaman
The battle of openers promises to be intense, with India fielding the pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, and Pakistan relying on Imam Ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman.
All four players are currently ranked in the top 10 ICC ODI batters, adding to the excitement. While Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill hold the 10th and 5th positions respectively, Imam Ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman are ranked 4th and 3rd respectively.
Both sets of openers have been in tremendous form recently, and their performance will play a pivotal role in the outcome of the India vs Pakistan match.
Middle-order: Virat Kohli & KL Rahul (wk) vs Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
As we move to the middle-order, the spotlight is on the one-on-one clash between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, accompanied by the battle of wicket-keepers KL Rahul and Mohammad Rizwan.
Virat and Babar hold the positions of the best ODI batters for their respective teams. However, the availability of KL Rahul for the middle-order remains a key question, as he is currently recovering at the NCA.
The team is optimistic about his recovery, but in case he doesn’t make it, Sanju Samson is likely to step in as the first-choice keeper for Team India.
Comparing the middle-order players, both teams seem evenly matched. While Babar Azam holds the number 1 position in ICC ODI batter rankings, Virat Kohli is not far behind at number 8. Similarly, KL Rahul is a better ODI batter than Mohammad Rizwan, with rankings of 41 and 61 respectively.
Finishers: Hardik Pandya, Surya K. Yadav & R. Jadeja vs Iftikhar Ahmed, A. Salman & Shadab Khan
The finisher role seems to be favoring Team India, boasting a formidable combination of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, the question remains whether Team India will entrust the finisher role to Suryakumar Yadav or wait for Shreyas Iyer to recover and take his place.
If Shreyas Iyer returns, he is expected to play at number 4, with KL Rahul at number 5. On the other hand, if Iyer doesn’t recover in time, Suryakumar Yadav will likely assume the finisher role at number 6, with KL Rahul occupying either the 4th or 5th spot.
From a tactical standpoint, Suryakumar Yadav’s inclusion as a finisher adds more value to the team than Iyer at number 4.
Comparing the finishers, India’s trio of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja appears more formidable than Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, and Shadab Khan.
If Pakistan decides to place Shadab Khan at number 7, Wasim Junior will likely be positioned at number 8 to strengthen their batting lineup.
Bowlers: K. Yadav, J. Bumrah, M. Shami & M. Siraj vs M. Wasim, Haris Rauf, S. Afridi & N. Shah
Moving on to the bowling department, both teams boast formidable line-ups, but Pakistan edges slightly ahead with a pace attack that appears marginally stronger than India’s.
India’s pace trio comprises Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, while Pakistan’s features Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.
- Pakistan’s pace attack offers a good mix of variety, with left-arm pace from Shaheen Afridi, express pace from Naseem Shah, and a reliable death bowler in Haris Rauf.
- India’s pace attack is equally potent, but the pivotal factor could be Jasprit Bumrah’s recovery and form.
- Regarding spin, India’s options revolve around either Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal, with Kuldeep likely to be the preferred choice.
- Pakistan, on the other hand, will be relying on Shadab Khan to lead their spin attack. In terms of experience and skill, Shadab Khan holds an advantage over the Indian spinners.
Finally, considering the fifth and sixth bowling options, India’s Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja seem more potent than Pakistan’s Mohammed Wasim and Agha Salman.
The experience of Pandya and Jadeja adds depth to India’s bowling attack, making it slightly stronger than Pakistan’s.
Asia Cup 2023 – India vs Pakistan: The Strongest Possible Playing 11
India Strongest Possible Playing 11:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
Also Read: India Team Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Pakistan Strongest Possible Playing 11:
- Imam Ul-Haq
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam (c)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Agha Salman
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Wasim
- Haris Rauf
- Naseem Shah
- Shaheen Afridi
Also Read: Pakistan Team Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Conclusion:
Both India and Pakistan have impressive and strong playing 11s on paper. However, India’s playing 11 looks slightly more potent due to the current form of their players and the match conditions. Nevertheless, the final outcome will also depend on the availability of key players for Team India. The Asia Cup 2023 promises to be an exhilarating tournament, and the India vs Pakistan match is undoubtedly the highlight that fans all over the world are eagerly waiting for.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2023 India Squad, Team, Playing 11, Matches, Schedule, Players List
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FAQs
When and where will the India vs. Pakistan match take place in Asia Cup 2023?
The India vs. Pakistan clash at Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled for September 2, Saturday, in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Which players are likely to feature as openers for India and Pakistan?
India is likely to open with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, while Pakistan may field Imam Ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman as their openers.
Who are the key players in the middle-order for India and Pakistan?
The middle-order for India will be led by Virat Kohli, while Pakistan will rely on Babar Azam. KL Rahul and Mohammad Rizwan are expected to be the respective wicket-keepers for both teams.
What is the possible finisher combination for India and Pakistan at Asia Cup 2023?
India’s finishers may include Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja, while Pakistan’s finishers could be Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, and Shadab Khan.
Which team holds a slight advantage in the bowling department?
Pakistan’s pace attack appears marginally stronger with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah. However, India’s bowling attack remains potent with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav.