Asia Cup - India vs Pakistan: 5 things to look forward to in the match

India and Pakistan lock horns in the a crucial Asia cup tie on Saturday. Bet yourself to find the streets deserted and eyes glued to the television sets in both the countries as two cricketing superpowers go head to head in a high octane clash.The political turmoil between the two countries has led to a temporary severance of all bilateral cricketing ties for some time now. Some believe that the escalation of that political tension might turn this into an even more intense battle as neither of the countries would like to lose this high-profile encounter.There are lots of things we cherish every time India play Pakistan. Here are 5 things to look forward to in the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match.

#1 Virat Kohli vs Wahab Riaz

Virat vs Wahab will be a mouth-watering clash

Over the last few years, Virat Kohli has firmly established himself as one of the best among the emerging generation of cricketers. Many consider him to be India's foremost batsman now and the most vital cog in the Indian batting order.

Kohli has been in phenomenal form of late and enjoys a very good record against Pakistan. The last time these two teams met in their opening fixture of the World Cup 2015, Kohli scored a scintillating century to lead India's charge to victory.

On the other hand, Wahab Riaz is one of Pakistan's finest fast bowling prospects who can bowl with pace and passion. His dream spell to Shane Watson in the World 2015 quarter-final will be fondly remembered for some time to come.

Riaz will come out all guns blazing and try to go after India's best batsman from the very beginning. The Kohli-Riaz battle will be a mouth-watering prospect for viewers around the world.

#2 Ashwin might be the Indian trump card

It will be interesting to see how Pakistan approaches Ashwin

There does not seem to any dip in form for Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has, for the last few years, gone from strength to strength and emerged as India's strike bowler across all formats of the game.

In T20Is, MS Dhoni has used him in a variety of ways so far gauging the situation of the game. At times, he uses Ashwin up front in the power-plays while on other occasions, he has been used in the middle overs and in the dying stages.

Ashwin has been generally an economical bowler and if you consider the fact that he still manages to pick wickets, it makes him a dangerous spinner. The few occasions when Ashwin has been expensive, no wonder India have struggled to stem the opposition.

It will be interesting to see the Pakistani approach to Ashwin. Will they try to play him out or go after him? Whatever is the case, Ashwin and how Dhoni uses him will set up the battle in an interesting way.

#3 Afridi to go boom boom?

Afridi remains the flag-bearer of Pakistani hopes in the shortest format of the game

There has never been a player like Shahid Afridi. From the time when he initially burst on to the scene to how he has constantly reinvented himself to stay on for such a long time, it has been a phenomenal journey for Shahid Afridi.

And now, even in the twilight of his career, Afridi remains the flag-bearer of Pakistani hopes in the shortest format of the game. Some might argue that he can hardly be depended upon these days. But more often than not, he has been doing very well with the ball to lead the Pakistani charge.

And you should never count out Afridi, the batsman. Some believe that he is a dormant volcano waiting to awaken for one last time. All it takes is for him is to connect a few balls and Afridi can set the stage on fire. And if Afridi does go boom boom, fans all around the world will cheer for him!

#4 Can Pandya be the X-factor?

India may have found their next all-rounder and finisher in Hardik Pandya

There is a rising excitement in some quarters that India's long time search for their next all-rounder might have come to an end. Hardik Pandya, having been included in the T20I squad for the Australia tour after successful domestic performances, has taken like a duck to water.

Not a fussy bowler who has so far bowled his quota with economical figures, it is his lethal power-hitting down the order that has endeared him to his fans. Sent in ahead of Dhoni with a license to kill in the first T20I against Bangladesh, Pandya unleashed a display of mind-blowing clean-hitting.

India may have found their next all-rounder and finisher in Hardik Pandya. It will be an all new test for him against a quality Pakistani bowling attack. If Pandya does it again against Pakistan, our proposition that India have found their next all-rounder will seem well-founded.

#5 A tale of fast bowlers

Bumrah is being hailed as one of the greatest finds

Whenever there is an India-Pakistan clash, we talk about it being a battle between the Indian batsmen and the Pakistani bowlers. The narrative seems to be refreshingly different this time. It is not that the Pakistani bowlers will not come hard at the Indian batsmen.

Rohit Sharma has been in phenomenal form of late. And the likes of Kohli, Raina or Dhoni have the potential to single-handedly win a game. But for the first time, the Indian pace bowling duo of Nehra and Bumrah have raised Indian hopes.

Between Nehra and Bumrah, the contrast of age and aspirations could not have been greater. Nehra has made a fairy-tale comeback and in the twilight of his career, he wants to show the world that he has still got it in him.

Nehra has been bowling with pace, swinging the ball and picking up wickets since his comeback. Bumrah, on the other hand, is being hailed as one of the greatest finds, for his ability to bowl superb yorkers at the death and a well-disguised slower ball.

Pakistan, as expected, go into the match with a great repertoire of pace bowlers. Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan do not lack pace, passion and aggression. Irfan's pace and bounce and Riaz's deadly swing can unsettle any top order batsman.

The battle lines seem to have been drawn. This might well be a tale dominated by the fast bowlers.