Team India will commence its Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Pakistan on Saturday, August 2nd, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Looking at the roster on paper, Team India shows promise, especially with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill set to open the innings. The middle order boasts a strong lineup, featuring Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. When it comes to the bowling attack, Jasprit Bumrah leads the fast bowlers, supported by Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Managing the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav takes the lead role.
On the other hand, Pakistan is riding high on a dominant 238-run win against Nepal, and they are determined to sustain their winning momentum throughout the tournament. However, they face a challenging test against the formidable Indian side.
Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, delivered an outstanding performance with 151 runs against Nepal in the previous match, and he’s determined to carry that momentum into this game. Additionally, Iftikhar Ahmed also scored a century. Coming to their bowling attack, the trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf is poised to strike fear into the hearts of the opposition.
Now, even though both squads are stacked with star power, check out the top five players you absolutely can’t miss for your dream 11 fantasy team:
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is the second-highest run-scorer for India in Asia Cup history, showing his consistency. Moreover, his stellar record against Pakistan, with 720 runs in 16 matches at an average of 51.42 and a strike rate of 88.77, makes him an ideal pick for your fantasy team.
2. Babar Azam
Babar Azam, with his recent blistering knock of 151 runs against Nepal in the previous match, stands as one of the premier batters in modern-day ODI cricket. Omitting him from your fantasy team could prove to be a costly mistake.
3. Virat Kohli
Remember the last face-off with Pakistan and what Virat Kohli pulled off? So, not having Virat Kohli in your fantasy team for this high-stakes match against Pakistan would be like shooting yourself in the foot. The man thrives on pressure, and facing Pakistan? That’s his playground. You need to have him in your lineup.
4. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is on a rampage, and he is about to give Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, and his other teammates a run for their money. Reading Kuldeep’s deliveries is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, and if the Pallekele pitch decides to dance, Kuldeep is going to be the star of the show.
5. Shaheen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi and the new ball? It’s like a match made in heaven. This left-arm pacer lives for those early wickets and dishes-out deliveries that are just plain nasty. Remember how Indian batters danced to his tunes before? You better believe he’s a must-have in your fantasy team.
