The cricket world is buzzing as legendary Australian batter Matthew Hayden offers some strategic advice to India's captain, Rohit Sharma as Men in Blue are gearing up for the high-octane clash against arch-nemesis Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 on Saturday, September 2.
Hayden recommends that Sharma exercise "caution" while facing Pakistan's ace pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, particularly during the bowler's first three overs. This counsel stems from India's disheartening 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where Rohit Sharma was bowled out for a first-ball duck by Afridi's yorker.
The cricket veteran relayed his thoughts to Star Sports, saying, "You've got to be conservative against Shaheen Afridi. Remember back to the (T20) World Cup (in the UAE in 2021) more recently. Shaheen was able to take early wickets." Hayden added that Sharma should focus on "playing out those first three overs" if Afridi's deliveries are swinging.
"We'll never forget that ball that he bowled to Rohit Sharma, so a little bit of caution against Shaheen Afridi. If it's swinging, look to play out those first three overs," Hayden advised the India skipper.
During the 2021 clash, former Indian skipper Virat Kohli managed to be the highest run-getter for Team India with a 49-ball 57. As the competition heats up between the two arch-rivals, Hayden terms it as the "spiciest competition" in world cricket. The Australia cricket legend also warns India to be prepared for extra bounce from bowlers like Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah on the Kandy pitch conditions.
"India is playing against Pakistan's pace trio. This is one of the spiciest competitions on the planet. We've got Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem (Shah). Three very different types of bowlers and unique bowlers, which require unique plans from Team India.
"Firstly, the conditions here in Kandy tend to have quite a lot of bounce, so you've got to watch that out, especially Haris Rauf. He'll want to really hustle in and hit the top of off stump.
"And I think with Naseem, even though he will shape the ball, Pakistan can be in a position to advance forward with India managing to take them out of play by aggressive plays against someone like Naseem," said Hayden.
"Put him (Naseem) under pressure, feel like you are in front of the game. All in all, though, I think it's going to be Team India that's going to win. I think they've got a deeper, classier batting lineup, and I think they've got form on the board as well," Hayden added.
Meanwhile, former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar expressed high hopes for Virat Kohli, who led India to an exhilarating last-ball victory over Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
"Virat is ready for the greatest rivalry in world cricket. The last time these two nations played (2022 T20 World Cup), Virat came out with a special innings, and that shot versus Haris Rauf will be etched in the memories of cricket lovers for a long, long time. Now, what has Virat Kohli done in the last six to eight months? How has he come out of a little bit of a bad patch wherein he wasn't scoring big runs? But now he has got into that habit of scoring big runs again," Bangar said.
Bangar added Kohli's habit of allowing the ball to come to him will help him in a big way against the likes of Afridi.
"He is setting up really nice and early, staying still, allowing the ball to come to him. That is one aspect which is going to help him big time, especially against Shaheen (Afridi) because he gets the ball to swing in late. And if we are watching the ball, letting it come to you, you can actually play it down the ground or play it to mid-on or mid-wicket region; that is where his (Kohli's) strength is," Bangar concluded.
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