India vs Pakistan: Rain Threat At Melbourne, Pace Threat From Shaheen & Naseem

Kolkata: It’s time for another India versus Pakistan clash, this time in the T20 World Cup at the colossal Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The good news is that the weather has improved in Melbourne, with Team India managing a full practice session on Saturday afternoon. Chances of rain on the day of the big match have reduced from 90% to 70%.

The bad news is that whatever rain is expected on Sunday is likely in the evening, and the match is scheduled to start at 7 pm local time (1.30 pm IST).

Rohit Sharma said Team India are ready for a shortened match.

“I’ve been hearing about the Melbourne weather for a while now, and it keeps changing… You don’t really know what is going to happen tomorrow. The things that are in our control, we’ll try and control that, which is having a good training session, then relax and get ready for tomorrow.”

The skipper said his team will go to the ground thinking it will be a 40-over game.

“If the situation demands a shorter game, we will be ready for that as well. A lot of the guys have played such kinds of games before, and they know how to manage in a situation like that where you are getting ready for a 40-over game, and then suddenly it’s a 20-over game, or five overs each,” Rohit said.

Both teams need to bat for at least five overs for a match to be constituted.

If the weather god does allow cricket to go ahead, India will have to contend with Pakistan’s nippy pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. While Shaheen destroyed India with his swinging deliveries and yorkers bowled at 150 kmph and more in the T20 World Cup clash a year ago, Naseem proved to be a handful for Rohit & Co. in the Asia Cup last month.

India’s strength in their batting, especially in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and spinning allrounder Ravindra Jadeja.

In case a 40-over game is possible, the match could be won and lost in India’s batting powerplay. The onus will be on Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to weather the storm and set the ideal platform.

It’s 2-1 in favour of Pakistan in T20I head-to-head clashes over the past 12 months, all of which were played at Dubai.

Australian pitches are different, but Pakistan bowlers will still fancy their chances on the bouncy tracks against an Indian batting line-up they have had the measure of in recent times.

MATCH DETAILS

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground

Time: From 1.30 pm IST

Live telecast: Star Sports network

Live streaming: Disney+ Hotstar.