Younis Khan, the former Pakistan World Cup-winning captain, has revealed names of the two biggest threats to Pakistan during their Super 12s opening match against India in Dubai on Sunday. The Men in Blue have never lost a World Cup match to the Green Army.
The much-awaited clash between the arch-rivals is set to take place on Sunday (October 24) evening in Dubai as bitter rivals will renew their on-field rivalry as they meet each other in their ICC T20 World Cup 2021 campaign opener for both the Asian giants.
Babar Azam And Virat Kohli Will Play In The Much Awaited India-Pakistan Clash
The much-anticipated cricket match that consequently received the most heated build-up with the ever-increasing external glare of the media and the rest of the world, Virat Kohli’s ‘favourites’ Men in Blue will be seen in action against a determined Babar Azam & Co. in match no.16 of the ongoing ICC World T20 tonight.
While the duo will be pitted against each other as captains for the very first time, they have been subject to many comparisons in terms of batting talent and match-winning ability as leaders of their sides, in the lead-up to one of the greatest T20I matches several months in advance.
However, most Virat Kohli-Babar Azam similarities have been discounted due to the over five years age gap and the times at which both the talismanic skippers started their careers, citing Babar Azam is yet to establish himself in international cricket. While Virat Kohli was first seen donning Indian colours in 2008 against Sri Lanka, Pakistani sensation Babar Azam debuted for the Men in Green in 2015 against Zimbabwe in Lahore.
Younis Khan: Rohit Sharma And Mohammad Rizwan Can Also Turn Up The Heat, But The Spotlight Will Largely Be On The Two Skippers
Interestingly, Pakistan’s former T20 World Cup-winning captain Younis Khan reviewed Team India’s lineup for the ICC World T20 and remarked ahead of the Blues’ tie against the Azam’s Men in Green the names of players who can especially be more effective and prove to be ‘game-changers for their respective sides.
Speaking on the YouTube channel ‘Uncut’, Younis Khan claimed: “Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are two very bankable batsmen for both India and Pakistan respectively, but I feel that Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Rizwan can also turn up the heat. The spotlight will largely be on the two captains, so Rohit and Rizwan will be eased off pressure and can produce match-winning performances for their sides.”
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has had a staggering 2021 so far in the shortest format for Pakistan. In just 17 games, he has scored a hundred, as well as seven half-centuries averaging 94. Mohammad Rizwan had a brilliant series against England, where he scored 176 runs in three innings. The 29-year-old averages just under 49 after 43 T20s, and has risen to seventh in the ICC rankings for batters.
Apart from Rohit Sharma, the veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has picked Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah to be a key threat for the Green Army on Sunday in Dubai. According to the 43-year-old, both sides have a balanced pace attack.
“Pakistan’s fast bowlers have been in good shape. For India, their pace attack has improved significantly in the recent past as well. Bumrah, in particular, has been brilliant in the last few months,” Younis Khan said.
India will look to extend their unbeaten run against Pakistan in World Cups, with the absolute head-to-head record being 12-0 in favour of the Men in Blue. Meanwhile, Pakistan will go all out to defy all odds in upstaging their arch-rivals as they have assembled their best XI for the World T20 contest vs India, which is a mixed bag of young talent with some experienced minds.