India will clash against Pakistan in the 2nd match of the Asia Cup 2022 on August 28th (Sunday).
India's top 2 run-getters in T20Is this year, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan aren't included in the Indian squad for Asia Cup. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul will finally return for the Indian side in the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav has scored 428 runs in 12 matches this year at a strike rate of 189.38 and his scintillating form may bother the Pakistani bowlers.
Amongst the bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the highest wicket-taker for the Indian team this year in T20Is with 20 scalps in 16 innings at an impressive economy of 6.84. However, the deficit left by Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah's injury will be difficult to compensate for the likes of Arshdeep Singh & Avesh Khan.
Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has been in emphatic form for Pakistan this year in T20Is, scoring 1,349 runs in 27 innings with a ton & 12 half-centuries, striking at 134.63, while averaging 71.00. Babar Azam has also registered 1,005 runs in 27 innings with the highest score of 122. Fakhar Zaman has also been boasting of a good form of late and the Pak batting lineup may very well take on the Indian bowling attack.
Even though Pakistan will be without ace pacer Shaheen Afridi in the tournament, the bowling looks balanced enough. Haris Rauf has taken 26 wickets in 22 innings this year in T20Is, while Hasan Ali, who has picked 25 wickets this year, wasn't named in the squad but was later called up as replacement for injured Mohammad Wasim Jr. All-rounder Shadab Khan has also picked up 20 scalps this year in T20Is.
