IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023: Ravi Shastri identifies Pakistan's dangerman for big game

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The much-awaited clash of India vs Pakistan will be up in about few minutes time at the Asia Cup 2023 group stages and former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri identified Pak skipper Babar Azam as the dangerman against India.

Ravi Shastri pointed out that Babar Azam, who scored 19 hundreds in 104 games, has a good conversation rate in ODIs once he gets a good start and could be a decisive factor in the India vs Pakistan match at the Pallekele International Stadium as the Men in Blue start their campaign in Asia Cup 2023.

"He (Babar) converts those 30s and 40s starts into hundreds," Shastri told ESPNcricinfo. "And it is so important. We keep saying to go out there and face a number of balls, but if one of your top three gets a hundred, you get 300-plus.".

A seasoned leader like Rohit Sharma understands the "terrain" of an India vs Pakistan match better than most, but Babar Azam's unit will not be taken lightly, as it has managed to close the gap with the arch-rivals in recent years, according to former India head coach Ravi Shastri.

Virat Kohli has often demonstrated how he elevates his game against Pakistan, and Shastri believes that even if psychologically tough people go through a dry spell during the season, some of them find that competitive energy at the perfect moment on the grandest of platforms.

"And never go by form before an India-Pakistan game, because the tough-minded, mentally strong guys might not have done much six months back, but come the India-Pakistan game, they will come (to the fore). They know the importance of that game, they know where it can catapult them if they do well. Their juices will be fired up," Shastri said.

On Saturday, India and Pakistan will play their first one-day international (ODI) match in four years.

"I would say India start as favourites. This is their strongest team since 2011, this mix of players. And a captain who is seasoned, who understands the terrain better than most," Shastri said on Friday.

"Having said that, Pakistan have narrowed the gap. Seven-eight years (ago), there was a gap if you looked at the strength of both teams and man to man. But Pakistan have narrowed it down. They are a very good side, so you have to be on top of your game."