India vs UAE - 5 things to look forward to

After two overwhelming victories against strong sides, team India travels to Western Australia to take part in mellower affairs. Wins against Pakistan and South Africa initiated the great Indian juggernaut and it is unlikely that Dhoni’s boys will put down their guard when facing UAE, come Saturday. With some misfiring players yet to return to form, and a healthy run-rate to get – there’s more to expect from India versus UAE than what popular perceptions suggest.Here are five things to look forward to:

#1 Ground realities

Western Australia’s Cricket Academy ground will be hosting Saturday’s game between India and the UAE. Traditionally, the WACA has been a hunting ground for fast bowlers looking for pace and bounce, but off-late, it has produced results that are uncharacteristic of its surface.

In the recently concluded tri-series, England lost 7 wickets and made heavy weather of the chase, after bundling India out for 200 runs. In another game, England got all-out for 166 while chasing Australia’s 278, The odd bounce seen off-late is sure to attract some attention.

The Men in Blue haven’t had the best of times at this ground, having won just 4 out of the 11 ODIs that they have played there.

#2 Virat Kohli\'s landmark

Virat Kohli is now one ODI hundred short of overtaking Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 22 centuries. If the Indian vice-captain does score his 23rd, he will be second in the list of the highest number of ODI tons by an Indian after Tendulkar’s 49.

If Kohli scores 65 more runs, he will also enter the coveted club of cricketers who have 500 World Cup runs to their name, where ten Indian stalwarts wait for him. In the process, he will also claim the record of scoring 500 runs in the least number of World Cup innings by a player representing India.

#3 Swapnil Patil versus India

It’s already become one of the big talking points of this clash. Swapnil Patil, a Mumbaiker who has shared the dressing room with Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma at the youth level will be turning up for UAE, against the country he was born and brought up in.

It’s surely going to be an emotional affair, with the Patil family pledging their support to India, while at the same time, wanting Swapnil to do well. 29-year-old Patil, who has a career best of 99*, has played two games in this year’s World Cup, scoring 32 (vs Zimbabwe) and 2 (vs Ireland). A great sub-plot in the making.

#4 India\'s Bench

Ever since news arrived that the impressive Mohammed Shami was ruled out due to injury, the Indian training sessions have become the cynosure of all eyes. The word doing the rounds is that all-rounder Stuart Binny is most likely to replace the Bengal-pacer.

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar still injured, it will be interesting to see what role Binny plays with his military medium-pace. This puts the spotlight on Mohit Sharma, who will now be expected to deliver with the new ball. The game against UAE provides India with an opportunity to test the bench strength. But will they?

#5 Shaiman Anwar\'s litmus test

Shaiman Anwar has by far, been UAE’s most impressive performer with the bat. With 173 runs, at an average of 86.50, he is 8th on the list of highest run scorers in the 2015 World Cup. However, the challenge he will face from India’s bowlers will be far stiffer than what he has got from Ireland and Zimbabwe.

The heroics of this Pakistani-origin batsman in the last game didn’t go unrewarded, as Anwar’s employer has already gifted him a family holiday. If his good form continues, who knows, there might be a long vacation in store.