Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has come up with a suggestion for Team India for the upcoming clash against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022, to be played on September 4 in Dubai.
India already crushed Pakistan by 5 wickets in the group match, and now they are set to once again take on the arch-rivals in a Super Four clash on Sunday at the same venue in Dubai. Ahead of the match, Jaffer said India must include Deepak Hooda in their playing XI against Pakistan.
As Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022 due to an injury, the former batter felt Hooda’s inclusion in India’s XI over Akshar Patel would make the batting stronger when he was asked to pick between the two for the upcoming clash on Sunday.
Wasim Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo: “I will be tempted; there is no doubt about that. Because it makes the batting even more stronger. Against Pakistan especially, we have not played the brand of cricket we talk about, that aggressive approach, because our batting is till seven. If Hooda comes in, the batting will get a bit longer, so yeah, I will be tempted. He can bowl those two overs and he can bat anywhere.”
He continued, “If India doesn't play Axar Patel, or even Rishabh Pant, I mean Rishabh Pant is not expected to play because India has gone with Dinesh Karthik. But the only problem is, there's no left-hander. Pakistan has Shadab Khan and Mohammed Nawaz.”
Jaffer signed off by saying, “So you will be tempted to play at least one left-hander and use him as a floater when they're bowling. So saying that, that's the only question mark. So because of that, we might see Axar Patel and not Deepak Hooda.”
