EASY TEST IN CUP OPENER
■ India take on Hong Kong today ahead of Pakistan clash
Dubai, Sept. 17: A formidable India will be aiming to make short work of minnows Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener Tuesday before getting battle- ready for their much- anticipated clash against arch- rivals Pakistan on Wednesday. The match against Hong Kong will be an ‘ appetiser’ before cricket junkies are treated to a lavish spread of main course which will be the Indo- Pak rivalry. Even without regular skipper Virat Kohli, the Indian side, led by Rohit Sharma, is an intimidating one in the limited- overs format. Although Rohit and his colleagues won’t want to take Hong Kong lightly, in reality the match will only be a pre- cursor or a glorified dress rehearsal before they take on an inform Pakistan the very next day.
In the searing Dubai heat, where the mercury has risen up to 43 degree Celsius, the primary aim for the Men in Blue would be to get their combination right before the big game.
Hong Kong lost their opener against Pakistan by eight wickets in a thoroughly one sided showdown where they could manage only 116 runs. Unless a miracle happens, there won’t be a remarkable improvement in their performance against an Indian team that boasts of the likes of Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav in batting along with Jasprit
Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in bowling.
For the past few years, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s waning batting skills have repeatedly come under scanner and this tournament will give everyone a fair idea of his ideal position.
Whether it would end up being No. 5, 6 or 7 will be the big contention going into the Pakistan game.
If Dhoni comes in at No. 7, he will have to face a skilful Mohammed Aamir at the death along with a skiddy Usman Khan and talented Hasan Ali.
Possibly, Kedar Jadhav or Manish Pandey at No. 5 and Hardik Pandya with his big hitting abilities at No. 7 could prove to be ideal foil for the former India captain, if he decides to come at
No 6.
The middle- order that has been an issue for India for quite some time now and need to be sorted going into the World Cup next year.
It is expected that KL Rahul will bat at No. 3 but the incoming deliveries from Aamir or Hasan could be a problem like it has been in England.