India vs Pakistan: Pakistan Rely Heavily On Their Top Order: Scott Styris
According to former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris, the key to India defeating their arch-rivals would be to break the opening partnership early because the Pakistan cricket team heavily depends on Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan.
The India vs. Pakistan match, the biggest game in cricket, will be the centre of attention. During the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets to win their first match against the Virat Kohli-led team in any format.
In order to defeat an Indian team playing at full strength, Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan put together an opening stand of more than 100 runs that was unbeaten.
India’s Key Will Be To Break The Opening Partnership: Scott Styris
“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 while speaking exclusively on SPORTS18.
“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.
“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.
