Will India go for a green top in Mohali?
With just a few hours left in the most anticipated clash of the ICC World Cup, 2011 between Pakistan and India, there has been a lot of talk on the nature of the pitch.
India will be looking to find a way to stop Pakistan’s campaign in the mega event and one suggestion was to produce a green top wicket at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833 Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali in India. However, there is a question mark on this suggestion whether
it will play in favour or against the hosts.
There is no doubt that India have a very good batting line-up, especially playing in home conditions. The Men in Blue have one of the best opening pair, Sachin Tendulkar and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429, in the tournament and they have given their team some strong starts
in this event.
Other than the top two, there have been some consistent runs from the likes of Yuvraj Singh and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623, but one concern for the hosts is that their lower middle-order has failed to perform consistently.
Considering this factor, it will be a big risk for India if they opt for grass on the pitch. Pakistan have some of the most lethal fast bowlers of all time and it will be hard for the Indian batting to cope with pace and swing.
Although Shoaib Akhtar has had a lot of injury problems during his career, the 35-year-old has lost very little pace. The veteran pacer consistently bowled above 90 miles per hour in the group matches in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758.
Coming to India, it will be easier for Shoaib to bowl even quicker, as there will be less humidity compared to Sri Lanka. This will be one factor, which will stop India from leaving grass on the Mohali pitch.
Umar Gul is a captain’s delight, as he can bowl quick and move the ball both in the air and off the seam. The tall fast bowler was considered lethal in the death overs with his ability bowl reverse swinging yorkers at 90 miles an hour. In addition to that,
Gul has learnt the art of using the new ball to full effect, which will be the second factor for India to not produce a supportive pitch for fast bowlers.
In case of a green pitch, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 may go with left-arm pacers Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan as well, who also have the ability to bowl more than 90 miles an hour. Other than these fast bowlers, Pakistan also have all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. The veteran player
has done a good job with the ball in this tournament until now and he can also be lethal on a bowling friendly pitch.
Compared to the Pakistani fast bowlers, India have only one bowler Zaheer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Nehra-c46293, who have struggled to find a place in the playing-11.
Former Indian player Ravi Shastri claimed that a green top wicket would favour the hosts and Pakistan will lose eight times out of ten times on it. In reply to Shastri’s comments, former Pakistan captain Amir Sohail challenged http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to produce a bowling
friendly wicket at Mohali.
Although India have a terrific record at home and their batsmen are in sublime form, they wouldn’t like the ball in their ribcage, especially when it is coming at an express pace. Considering that, India will never provide a green wicket to Pakistan and
they will rather opt for a flat batting track.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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