The news that Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had suffered a muscle spasm ahead of India’s opening Asia Cup fixture against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Wednesday caused some degree of trepidation. Gujarat wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has been called up as back-up for Dhoni but the extent of India’s limited overs captain’s injury still remains unknown.
If Dhoni is forced to miss a few games for the Asia Cup, current Test captain Virat Kohli will obviously take over. But it will take some gloss away from the overwhelming favourites tag with which India have arrived in Bangladesh, ahead of the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 in March. Apart from a blip against Sri Lanka, Dhoni's men have been in cruise control in the last six Twenty20s they have played against Australia first and then Sri Lanka. At various times, they have won matches comprehensively without even playing to their full potential.
At the heart of this impressive run has been Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After a disappointing One Day International series loss against Australia, “Captain Cool” has regained his mojo. His bowlers have been delivering for him again and his glovework behind the stumps has been astounding. Not having Dhoni in their squad would undoubtedly hurt India but considering the strength of their squad, they would still back themselves to win a sixth Asia Cup title.
How does India’s opposition in the tournament match up? Let us take a look:
Pakistan
With the blow-hot-blow-cold Shahid Afridi as captain, Pakistan have brought a young team to Bangladesh. Some familiar faces are missing – there is no place for veteran fast bowler Umar Gul and opener Ahmed Shehzad in the team. Instead, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who took a hat-trick in his first Pakistan Super League match for the Quetta Gladiators and the PSL's first centurion Sharjeel Khan get a look in. In fact, Pakistan’s pace attack looks lethal – the fiery Wahab Riaz, the towering Mohammad Irfan, the comeback man Mohammad Amir and the experienced Mohammad Sami. Along with the wily Afridi to provide the spin option, they could be a handful on any surface. Hopefully the less talented batting line-up will also provide support.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka may have been blown away by India in the just-concluded Twenty20 series earlier in the month but they will be a different proposition in the Asia Cup. For one, they will have some key personnel back – captain Lasith Malinga and all-rounder Angelo Matthews will be back in the squad. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath is also back and on Bangladesh’s low and slow pitches, he could cause trouble. In any case, Sri Lanka have always shown a tendency to rise above themselves in multi-country tournaments so it would be unwise to write them off.
Bangladesh
Potentially the dark horses of the tournament. Bangladesh came two runs close to winning their first ever Asia Cup title in 2012, losing to Pakistan in an exciting final. At home, their recent form has been exemplary – series wins against the likes of Pakistan, India and South Africa, albeit in the One Day International format. With vociferous home support behind them, they have a good mix of youth and experience within the squad – old hands Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mashrafe Mortaza will steady the ship while in Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman (who was India’s wrecker-in-chief in their series last year) and Sabbir Rahman, they have some exciting young talent.
United Arab Emirates
The gate-crashers. The United Arab Emirates may be the minnows but they could be a potential banana peel, going by their performances in the Asia Cup qualifiers. They won all their three qualifying games convincingly to breeze into the main round. Unlike other Associate nations, their batting has been top-notch – they have scored above 170 in the two games where they batted first. Playing against the bigger nations may be a much sterner test but they will definitely fancy themselves to pull off an upset or two.
