Muttiah Muralitharan, MS Dhoni, Pakistan, Asia Cup 2018, india
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan said that India have a slight edge over Pakistan because of MS Dhoni and the arch-rivals will face off against each other on September 19 (Wednesday) in the Asia Cup/Getty Images

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan said that India have the edge over Pakistan because of senior Team India campaigner MS Dhoni and the arch-rivals will face off against each other on September 19 (Wednesday) in the Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai International Stadium.

Rohit Sharma will lead the team in absence of regular skipper, Virat Kohli. The two teams will face off in Dubai for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final in England last year.

However, the experienced Muralitharan conveyed that India has the edge with them as Pakistan is playing with their young members. The new members are playing exceptionally well and have shown a lot of improvement.

Moreover, Muralitharan also said that India had got a lot of talented players in their squad. Most of them played the maximum number of One-day Internationals and a lot of Twenty20s as well. India has the more exposure than Pakistan players.

Asia Cup 2018: India Have Slight Edge Over Pakistan Because of MS Dhoni - Muttiah Muralitharan
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“India have the edge because Pakistan are a young team. And they are improving. India have got the talent. A lot of their players have played a lot of ODIs, a lot of T20s… They have more exposure than Pakistan’s players,” Muttiah Muralitharan said for Aaj Tak show Salaam Cricket.

India was not upto the mark against Hong Kong. Shikhar Dhawan scored a century and the debutant Khaleel Ahmed also bagged with three wickets.

Moreover, Muralitharan stated that MS Dhoni is the key factor for the Indian side and he is playing as a wicket-keeper-batsman. This will give India more of strength, but Pakistan has also played a lot of cricket in Dubai.

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However, they know how to play in their home soil, but the Men in Blue are still getting some edge because of former skipper Dhoni.

Asia Cup 2018: India Have Slight Edge Over Pakistan Because of MS Dhoni - Muttiah Muralitharan
PC: Getty Images

“And they key factor is that MS Dhoni is still behind the wickets. He can control a lot because of his experience. That gives a little more edge to India. But Pakistan have also played in Dubai. They know how to play here but India have a slight edge because of Dhoni.” Muralitharan added.

Furthermore, both the arch-rivals India and Pakistan will try to put as much pressure as they can only to be at the top of Group A in the Asia Cup 2018. After being lauded by magician Muttiah Muralitharan, MS Dhoni aims to deliver big in the crunch clash.