As the Indian team prepares for their second meeting against Pakistan, this time in the Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup 2023 tournament on September 10; former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has asked the Men in Blue batters to be wary of Pakistani bowlers.
The two sides previously crossed paths during the group stage, but the match was abandoned due to rain in Pallekele. India played out their whole innings, scoring 266. However, the match saw Pakistani pacers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah reducing India to 66/4 before Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya's half-centuries enabled the side to rebuild.
Shaheen picked 4/35, while Rauf and Naseem picked three wickets each.
While the focus was on Shaheen who dismissed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Sunil Gavaskar said that India batters should be wary of Naseem Shah, who swung the ball away from the batters and made life difficult for everyone.
“If you looked at those 10 overs, you must have noticed the way Naseem Shah bowled. His out-swingers were brilliant, playing him was pretty difficult. Shaheen Afridi did take two wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, so the focus was on him. But the way Naseem bowled, that was terrific. Shubman Gill was playing majorly against him, and he was leaving him well,” Gavaskar said in a joint broadcast from Sports Tak and Samaa TV.
“If batters keep getting out at the other end, it's important to stick around. Shubman isn't in the best form right now, so he knows he has to take responsibility. This was a 50-over game after all. He has the shots to make up for the slow start. I guess that's why he was watchful, and a bit nervous. But Naseem Shah kept Shubman Gill quiet,” said Gavaskar further.
With a rain threat looming over the India vs. Pakistan Super 4s stage, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had stirred a controversy by allotting the game a reserve day as well for the encounter.
