Ind vs Pak: High voltage clash

India will try to keep their winning momentum when they take on Pakistan in their second match in the Asia Cup Twenty20 Championship at the Shere-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday. India defeated hosts Bangladesh by 45 runs in the opener on Wednesday, on the strength of Rohit Sharma’s knock of 83, which was followed by some good bowling performances led by veteran pacer Ashish Nehra. Form and history are both on India’s side. 

The 2007 World Twenty20 champions have met Pakistan on six occasions in the shortest format of the game where India have outclassed their neighbours five times, including the unforgettable 2007 World T20 final in Johannesburg which India won by five runs in the last over. The two teams last met here at the same ground in the 2014 World Twenty20, which India won by seven wickets. But come Saturday, it will be a fresh start for both the teams as Pakistan will aim to keep aside their poor show against India and hope to register a win in their first match of the 2016 Asia Cup. India, after two back-to-back T20 series wins against Australia and Sri Lanka, are in full flow to knock any opponent out on any given day. In-form openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan will try to give India a good start followed by flamboyant Virat Kohli, who failed against Bangladesh but will be raring to unleash his skills against Pakistan. 

The presence of experienced Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, hard-hitting newcomer Hardik Pandya followed by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni make the batting look extremely strong. In the bowling department, Dhoni will hope his young gun Jasprit Bumrah along with experienced Nehra and spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will continue their good form.