The group stage of Asia Cup 2022 came to an end as Pakistan defeated Hong Kong in a one-sided game. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are the four teams who will now compete in the Super-4 stage. Each team gonna play 3 games and the top two will qualify for the Final.
Meanwhile, India are set to face their arch-rival Pakistan again on Sunday. The venue is same but Indian management is forced to make some changes in the Playing XI. Ahead of the crucial games, India have suffered a blow as Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out owing to an injury. On Friday, BCCI named Axar Patel as the replacement for Jadeja.
India likely to drop Avesh Khan from Playing XI
So India are either going to play with Ravichandran Ashwin or Axar Patel in Dubai. But it is likely that management may prefer Ashwin over Patel. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya is set to return after being rested in the game vs Hong Kong. Pandya had made way for Rishabh Pant in the last game but the keeper batter may secure his place again.
India may play with both Pant, Karthik and drop Avesh Khan who disappointed management in the first two games of the tournament. Bowling options will reduce to 5 but batting will surely get depth. As far as the top order is concerned India are unlikely to make changes and we may see KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in top 3.
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Deepak Hooda is another one who can be the 6th bowling option replacing KL Rahul. If that happens, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant have to open while no.5 will be the perfect batting position for Hooda. But chances of dropping vice-captain KL Rahul are very less.
India’s Probable Playing XI vs Pakistan: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
In: Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin
Out: Avesh Khan, Ravindra Jadeja