India are set to face Pakistan for the first time since they were routed in the T20 World Cup last year during the upcoming Asia Cup. Pakistan were dominant in last year's meeting between the two sides, winning the match by 10 wickets and former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris believes that they seem to have landed on a set formula in the shortest format of the game, something India are still looking for.
“They should always be concerned about this top order, but the difference is this is probably one of the least unpredictable. Does that make them the most predictable team that I can remember for Pakistan? Because I think that they've embraced a culture of how they want to play the game and I think it's worked for them, whereas India, I think, is still searching a little bit," Scott Styris said on Sport18.
However, this formula also opens up a way for India to beat Pakistan, according to Styris. With fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who was crucial to their big win over India last year, is out due to injury in the Asia Cup, Styris said that India could gain advantage if they dismiss either of Pakistan's openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, early.
"So if you were to just look at the side, they rely so heavily on this man here, Mohammad Rizwan, along with Babar Azam, because if they get them off to a start, there's a lot of power hitting to come. So, therefore, they will look to provide the base and then Fakhar Zaman of this world with all that power, that left-handed sort of variety as well," Styris added.
{{/usCountry}}"So if you were to just look at the side, they rely so heavily on this man here, Mohammad Rizwan, along with Babar Azam, because if they get them off to a start, there's a lot of power hitting to come. So, therefore, they will look to provide the base and then Fakhar Zaman of this world with all that power, that left-handed sort of variety as well," Styris added.
{{/usCountry}}"I think coming in and maybe looking to attack the spinners, in particular, I think could work in Pakistan's favour. So India's key is to break that opening partnership, make those middle order players for Pakistan do what they don't want to do and that's actually at the back rather than walk out there and hit," Styris further said.