Asia Cup 2018: The Biggest Issue is Going to be the Heat - Sunil Gavaskar

The legendary cricketer of India, Sunil Gavaskar feels that the weather in the United Arab Emirates could be the strong factor for the team touring for Asia Cup 2018. Meanwhile, he termed UAE as the home den for Pakistan in his recent column for Times of India.

Gavaskar expressed his thoughts on the India-Pakistan game by adding that Pakistan has the psychological advantage over India. Meanwhile, he also pointed out the heavy burden of workload on the Indian players as well.

Sunil Gavaskar sheds light on India’s problems:

The former Indian skipper stated the Men in Blue should start as the favourites but expressed his doubts quoting that how of much success can help the out-of-form Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the middle-order line-up.

He also cited that the desert heat will take a toll on the Indian players. The Men in Blue recently made their way from England’s climate conditions. Gavaskar also highlighted the advantages that Pakistan have in their kitty.

”The much-awaited game between India and Pakistan is here, and as always in these contests, the peripherals sometimes take the centre stage. The absence of Virat Kohli, the performance of the Indian team on the recent tour of England, the desert heat and humidity and the back-to-back matches for India have been the talking points for the chatter heads,” Gavaskar wrote.

”India are the defending champions and should start as the favourites, but how quickly some of their players – who had an ordinary tour of England – get back to form will also be crucial. There are also some players like Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who have been out of international competition for a while and so may not get into the groove straightaway,” he added.

Double century can be ruled out from Asia Cup 2018 – Gavaskar

Gavaskar further feels that the heat will be the big issue for the bowlers and it will take a toll on the batsmen when they take two and three’s for the team. On the other side, Virat Kohli has been rested for the ongoing Asia Cup.

”The biggest issue though is going to be the heat and while India’s quicker bowlers bowled great and long spells in England. The desert heat so soon after the English weather is not going to make life easy for them. For the batsmen too, the twos and threes are going to take a heavy toll of the energies. So a double hundred is pretty much ruled out in this competition,” he added.

Pakistan has the psychological advantage – Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar remarked that Pakistan will be high on confidence by taking the boost from ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He also added that the conditions will suit Pakistan, who made UAE as their adopted home.

”Pakistan will have the psychological boost of having beaten India in their last clash in the final of the Champions Trophy. That was an outstanding performance where their opening batsmen and opening bowlers did the demolition job to perfection. The Emirates is the Pakistan team’s ‘home ground’ and they are familiar with the conditions much more than the Indians. Their recent form also has been very good. And they have a nice blend of youth and experience, with their fielding unit being perhaps their best ever,” he concluded.

However, as Sunil Gavaskar said Pakistan has got a lot of positives in their bag. But, India has got the great players in the ranks who can turn the tables on their day.