The traditional rivalry between subcontinental rivals Pakistan and India reignites on Sunday as the cricket heavyweights square off against each other in Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE. The six-team tournament starts on August 27 with Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan but the spotlight will be on the India-Pakistan fixture, which will have the Asian neighbours meeting after a ten-month gap. India, who begin their title defence against Pakistan, also look to avenge last year's defeat, having suffered a 10-wicket thrashing in the 2021 World T20.
Ahead of the much-anticipated fixture, India captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam were spotted having a lengthy chat. In a video shared by Pakistan Cricket on Saturday, the two figureheads were in a jovial mood before the start of the competition.
Earlier, Babar met former India skipper Virat Kohli – a sight that sent social media into a frenzy. The two players had a chat before India's practice session in Dubai. In a video shared by the BCCI, Kohli can be seen exchanging pleasantries with the Pakistan star.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, Babar met former India skipper Virat Kohli – a sight that sent social media into a frenzy. The two players had a chat before India's practice session in Dubai. In a video shared by the BCCI, Kohli can be seen exchanging pleasantries with the Pakistan star.
{{/usCountry}}The last time the two nations met was at the same venue, it turned out to be a lop-sided encounter. While Babar and Co. will hope for a repeat, the Indian unit, led by Rohit, look to settle the score this time around.
Rohit looks to continue his team's attacking approach in the run-up to this year's World T20. Kohli, on the other hand, hopes to return to form after a subdued run in world cricket. It’s been over 1000 days since Kohli last scored a ton in international cricket and he will be looking to rediscover lost mojo in his 100th T20I appearance on Sunday.
After a month's rest, when he skipped India's white-ball tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe, Kohli returns to action with the Asia Cup T20s.
"For the first time in 10 years I have not touched a bat in a month," Kohli told Asia Cup broadcasters Star Sports. "I came to the realisation that I was kind of trying to fake my intensity a bit, recently."
Meanwhile, Pakistan have to rely on their second-string pace attack after frontline pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was ruled out for at least four to six weeks because of a knee injury he sustained while fielding during a Test in Sri Lanka last month.