There is a lot of buzz around the India versus Pakistan clash in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, slated to be held in Pallekele on Saturday (September 2).
While India are coming into the Asia Cup after a successful all-format tour of West Indies, Pakistan have entered the continental event on the back of a 3-0 ODI series win over Afghanistan.
Ahead of the marquee encounter, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has said that the outcome of the game hinges on the battle between Shaheen Afridi and the Indian top-order batters.
Hogg also opined that if Pakistan want to get on top of the game, they need to dismiss India’s star batter Virat Kohli early in the contest.
"I definitely will be watching it. It is one of the biggest contests that we can have. Look, politics gets in the way of sports everywhere. It’s here in Australia, England everywhere. We are just missing the rivalry between the two countries on the cricket field. It will be better for Pakistan as well because they will get the exposure. We want those contests to happen. India has a more dominant batting. Pakistan with their pace attack has a slight advantage, especially with left arm Shaheen. He is a quality bowler. When you have a left-arm fast bowler who swings the ball with pace and gets them to come in for the right-handers it does make it difficult,” said Hogg on Backstage with Boria.
"I think Shaheen will have a chance with the deliveries that come in against right-handers. If Pakistan can expose Virat Kohli early in the contest against the new ball in front of Shaheen. The contest between Shaheen against the Indian top three will be decisive. So, for me, that’s going to be where the game will be won and lost between India and Pakistan," he explained.
After regaining his form in the Asia Cup last year, Virat Kohli hasn’t looked back. He was the highest run-getter in the 2022 edition of T20 World Cup in Australia.
Kohli had scored 296 runs in the marquee event from six innings, including a match-winning knock of 82 not out in 53 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Talking about Kohli, Hogg said, "I was looking at Kohli’s stats the other day. Tendulkar got a slightly better conversion rate of 100s. Kohli’s got a better record. I just think he has got his hunger back and a little bit of pressure taken off him. I think he’s got unfinished business and that’s probably the big danger for opposition teams. That innings against Pakistan here at the MCG, hitting Haris Rauf back over his head of good length. That was the best shot that I have ever seen in cricket. It was brilliant. Fans got to realise that there is a lot of pressure on Kohli. He also can have ups and downs even the great Tendulkar had ups and downs. When he has got that right frame of mind and has that pressure off his back we see a dominant Kohli. I am not worried about the Indian batting. I am probably worried about the Indian bowling attack. It is their bowling which doesn’t get them off to a good start."
(With ANI Inputs)
