IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023: Five crucial learnings for Rohit Sharma and Co. after clash against Babar Azam's men

Add as a preferred source on Google

IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023: India's first match against Pakistan ended without a result but gave them some crucial learnings ahead of their other matches in the continental event and the upcoming World Cup 2023.

Electing to bat first, India managed to post a 267-run target for Pakistan after another top-order collapse against a quality Pakistan bowling unit. Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and the rain saved the day for India but they should be quick to pay heed to the following points and address them at the earliest.

IND vs PAK: Over-reliance on top-order can backfired for Team India

The Indian top-order of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer failed leaving India reeling at 66/4 in 14.1 overs. Thanks to the 138-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya which helped India post a respectable 266-run total.

Ishan Kishan (82) and Hardik Pandya (87) combined together to score 169 runs, which was more than half of the Team India total of 266. The other nine batters combined together to score 87 runs.

Struggle against left-arm pace continues - Rohit and Kohli at the centre of it

Since the start of 2022, Indian batters have faced 517 balls in the powerplay overs from left-arm pacers. They have scored a total of 371 runs against them at an average of 23.18 and a strike rate of 71.76. Indian batters have succumbed to left-arm pacers 16 times in the powerplay overs during the period.

Two senior most Indian batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have struggled as well. Since the start of 2021, Virat Kohli has got out four times to left-arm pacers. He has faced a total of 98 deliveries to score 87 runs at an average of 21.75 and a strike rate of 88.77.

Rohit Sharma on the other hand got out six times against the type of bowlers. He has faced 147 deliveries to score 138 runs at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 93.87.

Ishan Kishan hates the 'backup' tag

The youngster has often been called India's backup opener. In the absence of KL Rahul, he became the backup wicketkeeper-batter for the first two matches of the Asia Cup 2023.

However, the former Under-19 World Cup captain showed character and a lot of maturity to revive Indian innings after the top-order collapse. His six over backward point off Haris Rauf would be remembered for long, and so will his approach against spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz.

He stitched a 138-run partnership with Hardik Pandya. It's the highest for the fifth wicket in the Asia Cup. He was seen limping moments before he got out after scoring 82 off 81, however, had he stayed India could have very easily posted a 300-plus target.

Ishan Kishan's left-hand batting brings variation in the batting line-up and India should look at him seriously and not just as backup. KL Rahul directly replacing him in the eleven would be unfair now.

Hardik Pandya shows why he is the biggest cog in India's white-ball wheel

Hardik Pandya's underwhelming performance in the white-ball leg of the West Indies tour raised concerns. He scored 5 and 7 runs in the first two ODIs before scoring an unbeaten 70 in the final game. His four T20I innings on the tour saw him score 19, 24, 20* and 14.

But the flamboyant showed his match-winning ability once again when the team needed him the most. A blistering 87-run knock off 90 balls put India right back in the game. At the end of 30 overs, the right-hander was batting on 38 off 50.

He started off his career as someone who would just come and swing his bat in the death overs. However, post his comeback from injury and after being named as the captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL, Hardik Pandya has emerged as a different cricketer altogether. He is mature, he plays the situation and analyses the game really well.

His knock under tremendous pressure would put India in good stead in the crucial upcoming two months.

Shubman Gill needs to score runs against quality attack

Shubman Gill has fast grown as an all-format player but he needs to prove himself against quality opposition and quality pacers. He looked trapped against the likes of Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. His 32-ball stay in the middle fetched him 10 runs only.

He was outdone by Rauf's pace as the ball went straight into the big gap between his bat and pad. He has scored loads of runs in India and against opposition like West Indies and Zimbabwe, but he's yet to show the class that is expected from him.

The crowned 'prince' of the Indian cricket team, will have to take his game to a different level by scoring against the big boys. India need their openers to start the innings on a strong note, and the goal cannot be achieved if Gill is left wanting against premier bowling attacks.