ICC World T20 2016: India vs Pakistan- 5 key battles

India would take on Pakistan in an all-important clash of the ICC World T20 2016The much-anticipated clash of the ICC World T20 2016 is just around the corner with India and Pakistan set to face each other for the second time in two months in a T20 competition at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.Despite the perfect record that India have against their neighbours in World Cups (whether 50 over or 20 over) it is Pakistan whoholdthe momentum going into the crucial encounter and hold the upper hand over the hosts.Indiawerehumbled in their openinggame against New Zealandwhen the powerful Indian batting line-up submitted to the New Zealand spinners who exploited the turning surface at Nagpur perfectly.On the other hand, Pakistan, in their tournament opener against Bangladesh registered a first innings total in excess of 200 runs and won the game easily by 55 runs.There are two counter-balancing records on the line as well. While Indiahavebeen undefeated against Pakistan in World T20s, they have lost all of their limited-overs fixtures (4) against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens.Here, we take a look at 5 key battles between players that might define the course of the match.

#5 Jasprit Bumrah vs Shahid Afridi

Bumrah would look to get his yorkers right against Pakistan as well

Speaking about the in-form batsmen, Pakistan have their captain Shahid Afridi who took the game against Bangladesh by storm through a breathtaking half-century, to help Pakistan post a match-winning total, and then grabbed two quick wickets to put Bangladesh on the back foot.

Afridi’s knock of 49 off just 19 balls with 4 fours and as many sixes would have definitely sent some jitters down the spines of the Indian bowlers.

However, India have recently unearthed a gem, who looks to have ice running down his veins, as he has delivered in crunch situations with his toe-crushing yorkers, something that was previously unheard of in the Indian bowling arena.

Jasprit Bumrah has been the find of the year so far for India, and he would look to continue his impressive stint in this game as well.

However, the path won’t be easy for him, as he might have to face one of the most destructive batsmen in the history of the game in Shahid Afridi.

Will Bumrah’s yorkers be able to uproot Afridi’s stumps? Only time will tell.

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin vs Ahmed Shahzad

Shahzad’s wicket would be crucial for India in the match

Ahmed Shahzad, the Pakistani opener, returned to form in the match against Bangladesh with a sparkling half-century thereby helping Pakistan get off to a brisk start and laid the platform for the middle order to build the innings, which it did.

Shahzad combined with Mohammad Hafeez for a 95-run stand for the 2nd wicket to lay the platform for a big score. That was possible only because the Bangladeshi new-ball bowlers could not get Shahzad’s wicket up front and allowed him to settle.

Speaking of new ball bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin has been a handy new-ball bowler for India, especially in T20 cricket. It might not come as a surprise if MS Dhoni opts to open with Ashwin again tonight.

It is here that the probability of a contest between Shahzad and Ashwin comes into the picture. Shahzad is an attacking batsman by instinct, and might as well decide to take Ashwin on straight away.

In doing so, he also risks his wicket, which is exactly what Ashwin would be seeking early in the innings if he takes the new ball.

#3 Yuvraj Singh vs Wahab Riaz

Yuvraj Singh would look to get some big runs against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens

The ‘king of comebacks’ Yuvraj Singh has been a revelation since his return to the Indian side during the T20I series against Australia in January.

The veteran southpaw gained some good touch with the bat during the Asia Cup T20 with his short but useful cameos against Sri Lanka and the UAE.

He looked like getting some runs in India’s opening match against New Zealand before he hit a ball straight back to Nathan McCullum. The Punjab batsman would also be hungry to get some runs under his belt.

Although, Yuvraj isn’t at home against pace as comfortably as he is against spin. Wahab Riaz, who is more than capable of bowling both the yorkers, as well as the slower ones, might come in handy in this regard and he may trouble the Indian left-hander.

#2 Virat Kohli vs Mohammad Irfan

Kohli’s would be the price wicket for Pakistan in the game

Virat Kohli has been India’s best batsman in the shortest format of the game, and has a staggering average of 52 in T20I cricket, the highest amongst all batsmen to have played the format.

As was evident in the last game that India and Pakistan played against each other, in the Asia Cup, Kohli could prove out to be the difference between the two sides, and if Pakistan have to contain India, they will have to contain Kohli.

The bowler against whom the Indian batsman looked the most uncomfortable, arguably, was the 7ft tall Mohammad Irfan, as his angling deliveries with pace and the extra bounce that he extracts off the surface were troubling Kohli outside the off stump- an area that is considered to be his only weakness.

Tonight as well, Irfan would look to do the same and trouble the Indian ace in that corridor of uncertainty. If Irfan manages to dismiss Kohli, it might turn out to be a game-defining moment.

#1 Rohit Sharma vs Mohammad Amir

Amir would look to pick up early wickets for Pakistan

Rohit Sharma, the Indian opener, has a point or two to prove as far as the World T20 is concerned.

Without a doubt, he has been in some exceptional form in limited-overs cricket of late, but he hasn’t quite gone on to play a big innings since the Asia Cup opener against Bangladesh.

His last outing against Pakistan wasn’t a memorable one either as he was dismissed for a second-ball duck by a bowler whom he later asked not be hyped too much.

Mohammad Amir is in some terrific form with the ball since the Asia Cup, and would look to get Rohit’s wicket early in the innings as he had done in Bangladesh.

Rohit, however, has a phenomenal record at the Eden Gardens and has scored one of his two double hundreds in ODI cricket, which is also his highest score, 264, at the same venue.

It would be interesting to see as to who comes out on top in this battle, set to take place very early in the Indian innings.