India v Pakistan – 1st T20I – Indian bowlers to watch out for [Part 1]
Ending a deadlock in bilateral cricketing relations, which lasted roughly 5 years, India and Pakistan will be reigniting one of the most intense rivalries in the sport, and playing a hotly-anticipated series which kicks off with two T20Is, the first match of which is due to be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, today on December 25.
Having shared cricketing ties since http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 terror attacks, which froze the diplomatic relations between both countries, and had a direct impact on their bilateral cricketing ties. After 5 years of attempting to reach a reconciliation, the BCCI finally announced an Indo-Pak series in July this year.
At the current moment, Pakistan and India have played a total of 59 Tests and 121 ODIs against each other, and the Men in Green have recorded more wins in both formats over their neighbours. However, in the T20I format of the game, it’s a different story. Owing to the fact that the format is relatively new, and bohttp://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 tournaments – two matches during the 2007 World T20, and one in the 2012 edition this year. The Men in Blue have the upper-hand here, having won two games outright, and having secured victory in one by winning the bowl-out after the scores were tied.
The series approaches amid spectacular hype, with fans having been whipped into a frenzy at the prospect of the two rivals clashing on-field. As the host team, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 will have a massive home crowd to contend with. If they do well, they will be cheered on by thousands, but if they fail, they will have disappointed millions of fans – suffice to say, the pressure is immense.
With the departure of several senior players, India’s batting line-up comes across as somewhat depleted. However, the bowling attack is raring to go, and will be keen to bring the Pakistani batting order down before they grow into too much of a threat. The line-up features a handful of names which stand out as particularly deadly weapons in India’s arsenal.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/I-Sharma-c1566
Fresh from having put massive effort into the home Test series against England, which India went on to lose, seamer Ishant Sharma is bound to provide the Men in Blue’s bowling attack a much-needed element of pace, and will be expected to deliver big-time, particularly after English fast-bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JM-Anderson-c1705 faced no difficulties in exploiting the “spin-friendly” sub-continental pitches to his benefit.
Frequently referred to as talented but unfortunate (with India’s ex-bowling coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eric-Owen-Simons-c56137 having dubbed him “one of the unluckiest bowlers”), Sharma was touted earlier in his career as a bowler destined to shoulder India’s pace attack after Zaheer Khan's retirement, but has failed to live up to expectations so far. However, a recent, promising performance against England suggests that he might have more to offer Indian cricket.
Sharma had been carrying an ankle injury since India’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Bresnan-c2711 on duck.
While T20 cricket is an entirely different ball game, the feats against England are likely to have injected Sharma with some much-needed confidence, and having claimed 6 wickets from 11 T20Is in his career so far, he will be eager to add to that tally against a historic foe like Pakistan.
Continued in Part 2 ...
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