CHENNAI: Honours shared in the T20 series, arch foes India and Pakistan are now set for what is likely to be an exhilarating three-match ODI series showdown that begins today.
If the Twenty20 matches were any indication, the ODI series is bound to leave the fans asking for more but the only concern is the rain that has lashed the city and is not expected to relent even today.
For India, the biggest positive to emerge from the two Twenty20 games gone by was Yuvraj Singh’s fantastic form.
The left-hander was nothing short of inspiring with the bat smashing a 36-ball 72, which included seven sixes, in the second T20 and is set to be back in the ODI fold after the Player of the Tournament-winning show in the 2011 World Cup.
But the top-order would be a concern given that both India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have not been in the best of touch in the recent past.
In the middle-order, it could be a toss up between Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma while Yuvraj and Suresh Raina are expected to make the rest of the batting line-up.
On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be handed an ODI cap as well for his impressive show in the shortest format.
After a decent outing in the T20s, Ishant Sharma would be leading the pace attack with Ashok Dinda and Bhuvneshwar as his likely partners.
The spin department would be spearheaded by local star R Ashwin in all likelihood.
For Pakistan, it would be a change of leaders as Misbah-ul-Haq would be captaining the ODI side.
The openers Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed have settled down nicely into their roles. Hafeez, in fact, has been calmness personified in a mercurial team, as was evident from his Man of the Series-winning performance in the T20s against the arch-rivals.
Old warhorse Younis Khan would lend the much-required stability, while the Akmal brother --Umar and Kamran will provide the spark in a strong middle-order.
Pakistan have the clear edge over India as far as bowling is concerned with Umar Gul being the most potent pacer. Saeed Ajmal’s spin has always troubled the Indians even though the hosts did take him to task in the second T20. AGENCIES
