India seek answer to Rahul-Kishan riddle ahead of high-voltage Pak clash

Colombo: The Indian team management's predicament to choose between KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan will be the dominating theme amid the usual edgy emotional quotient, when they face arch-rivals Pakistan in the most-awaited Super 4 match of the Asia Cup here on Sunday.

Alongside focusing on the team goals, the Indian management will want to assemble the best possible 11 in the park against Pakistan, whom the Rohit Sharma-led outfit is facing for the second time in the event.

But for that, they need to find answers for the aforementioned puzzle, and hope that rains will stay away despite adding a controversial reserve day to the match on Monday.

The return of Rahul to the squad has widened the pool of players to select from, but that has also given them a happy headache.

Kishan has impressed everyone in the last month or so, smashing four fifties in as many matches three against the West Indies and one against Pakistan in the Asia Cup Group A match at Pallekele last week.

During the process, Kishan has also diversified himself, underlining his comfort in positions ranging from opening to No. 5. The 25-year-old Jharkhand man opened the innings against the Caribbeans while batted in the middleorder against Pakistan.

Additionally, Kishan brings in a bit of variety to the Indian batting line-up as he is a left-hander. So, it seems that Kishan has everything going for him.

But Rahul's claim for the No. 5 position is hard to ignore despite the fact that the Bengaluru cricketer has not played an ODI since March this year, courtesy a thigh injury and the ensuing phase of post-surgery convalescence.

The 31-year-old remains one of India's steadiest ODI batters since 2019. In that year, he made 572 runs from 13 matches at 47.67.

The trend continued in the following years In 2020: 443 runs from 9 matches at 55.38, in 2021: 108 runs from 3 matches at 88.50, in 2022: 251 runs from 10 matches at 27.89 and in 2023: 226 runs from 6 matches at 56.50.

If one filters the stats further, while batting at No. 5, Rahul has amassed 742 runs from 18 matches at 53 with a hundred and seven fifties. Those are strong numbers and his wicket-keeping offers an additional arrow in the quiver. Rahul also engaged in intense wicketkeeping drills at nets on Friday, further indicating his readiness to make the return.

So, the team management will have to take a hard call on the match day. While that decision is important for the team to achieve the desired balance, they will also be eager to start the Super 4 with a win notwithstanding the combination they field.

Pakistan have already bagged two points after beating Bangladesh by 7 wickets at Lahore, and another win will place them comfortably on the way to the final. So, India will also want to enter the log sheet but they will have to counter a potent Pakistan bowling attack that can make an impact irrespective of the nature of the pitch.

Of course, Rohit and other Indian batters will be wary of the high-paced incoming deliveries of Shaheen Shah Afridi, but the Pakistan bowling unit has other equally Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam explosive performers.

Not facing Pakistani bowlers enough makes difference at big events: Gill

Shubman Gill, who found Pakistan's pace trio too hot to handle during his painstaking 10 off 32 balls in the group league game, admitted that not facing the Shaheen Shah Afridis and Haris Raufs often, does make a "difference" during multi-nation events.

The Indian top-order batters have had issues with Afridi's nipbackers and the awkward angles that he often creates and it has got everything to do with unfamiliarity even if you have watched thousands of his bowling videos.

"We don't play against Pakistan as often as we do against some other teams. We all know that their bowling attack is quite good and when you don't play against such attacks often it makes a bit of difference in main tournaments," Gill was frank in his admission that life has indeed been a bit difficult against the troika of speed merchants. India get to play Pakistan only during Asia Cup or at the ICC events.

Gill said that he was also banking on the left-arm throw-down specialist Nuwan Seneviratne to dish out an improved show against Afridi, and in general against Pakistan quicks. (PTI)