Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on the Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for his consistent performance for the Men in Green at the highest level. Shastri also urged the batters to take a clue from Azam to convert their starts into big runs.
The 28-year-old led the team from the front in the Asia Cup opener on home soil as he continued his rich vein of form scoring his 19th century in ODI cricket. Azam was brilliant in Multan, as he soaked up the pressure early on to tackle the bowlers in the middle overs before taking on the bowlers at the fag end of their innings.
Speaking on Espncricinfo, Ravi Shastri hailed Babar Azam for his consistency in converting his starts into big hundreds in the game. He believes the habit could be crucial for the team’s success in the impending matches, and reiterated that one of the top-order batters needs to score a big hundred in the game, which will subsequently propel the team to score 300+.
“Babar consistently turns his 30s and 40s into hundreds, which is crucial, Often we encourage players to go out and face a multitude of balls, but it’s the hundred from one of your top three that enables a 300-plus score,” Ravi Shastri said.
The Pakistan skipper has an average of close to 60 in the 50-over format. Babar Azam would look to continue his fine form going into the second game against India in Kandy on September 2. His form will be crucial for the team’s success against arch-rivals India.
In Sri Lankan Condition, They Are The Ones To Watch – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri highlighted the importance of fielding, as he feels that the defending champions Sri Lankans have done very well in the field since 1996, which has helped them to do well in the continental event. Besides, he urges the Indian team to ‘elevate their fielding level’ going into the crucial Pakistan game.
“Sri Lanka, the last Asia Cup champions, owe much of their victory to their fielding. They’ve maintained their status as the best fielding side in the subcontinent since 1996, last Asia Cup notwithstanding,” Ravi Shastri added.
“In Sri Lankan conditions, they are the ones to watch. However, should India elevate their fielding level, they could emerge as a formidable opponent,” Ravi Shastri further added.
The fielding of the Indian team will be important in crunch games against Pakistan in the group stage, as they got Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer on the field, who can make a difference for the team with their fielding on Saturday.