3 strategies Babar Azam can try to defeat India at Asia Cup 2022

The Asia Cup 2022 will kick off on August 27th with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan take on each other in the first match. The Indian team will play their opener against Pakistan on August 28th at Dubai International Stadium.

This will be the first time the two teams will lock horns after the humiliating defeat that India faced in the 2021 20-20 World Cup. Pakistan would be looking to replicate a similar result this time around as well. Ahead of the much-awaited match, let's take a look at three strategies that Pakistani skipper Babar Azam might try to defeat India at the Asia Cup 2022:

1) Shaheen Afridi to Indian openers:

Babar Azam might use Shaheen Afridi to threaten Indian Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul (Image Source: Twitter)

Indian openers are exposed to left-handed bowlers and this is a story that every cricket fan is familiar of. Needless to say, the Pakistani pace attack has a strong left-armer that can threaten Indian openers. It will most probably be Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul who'll be opening against Pakistan and the Indian skipper is vulnerable toward left-armers. 

The Mumbai batter struggled against Mohammad Amir in the past and it has been the case until now. Although Shaheen Afridi is likely to be the only left-armer for Pakistan, Babar Azam will stick to this strategy and clean up the openers in the powerplay overs.

2) Outside off-stump line to Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli:

Babar Azam might tip his bowlers to bowl outside off to Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli (Image Source: Twitter)

Virat Kohli's struggles at the fourth stump line has put him in the mud. The Indian legend is known for his cover drives but also gets out while playing those drives at fourth stump line. With his initial movement, the Pakistani skipper might tip his bowlers to go full outside off against Virat Kohli. 

Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, is a leg-side dominant player and the southpaw is a bit vulnerable to outside the off length. A short-ball pitched outside off might make Rishabh Pant go at the ball and eventually mistime it. The Pakistani skipper will use this strategy to tackle the southpaw and the Indian veteran.

3) Attacking at the death:

Babar Azam in the middle order can attack Indian pacers at death overs in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah (Image Source: Twitter)

Indian bowlers lack strong death bowlers this time around which might prove to be an advantage for the Pakistani batters. The middle-order for Pakistan looks extremely strong and has a great depth in the batting unit. The Pakistani skipper is at the peak of his form and would look to take advantage of Jasprit Bumrah's absence in death overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the sole experienced bowler in the Indian pace attack. Arshdeep Singh will have to stick to his strengths to contain the onslaught. Babar Azam and co. might target the death overs in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.