The Indian cricket team will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the Asia Cup 2022 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, August 28. 

Led by their talismanic captain Rohit Sharma, the two-time defending champions India will look to make a winning start against a formidable Pakistan side in their Group A clash. 

The Men in Blue will also be eager to avenge their 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match at the same venue in Dubai last year. 

Interestingly, India will head into Asia Cup 2022 as pre-tournament favourites, having clinched the marquee Asian tournament on seven occasions (six ODI and one T20I title) - the most by any team in the tournament’s history. Since the inception of the continental showpiece event, India have won the title in 1984, 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 2010, 2016 and 2018. 

On the other hand, Pakistan have claimed the Asia Cup twice in 2000 and 2012. 

The Asia Cup 2022 will be played in T20I format for just the second time. The inaugural T20I edition of the Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh in 2016. 

Meanwhile, vice-captain KL Rahul and star batter Virat Kohli have returned to India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. Rahul has recovered from his sports hernia surgery while Virat is back after skipping the West Indies and Zimbabwe series. 

Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, pacer Deepak Chahar and left-arm spinner Axar Patel have been named standbys for the marquee Asian tournament. 

However, India will miss the services of their premier fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel. While Bumrah has been ruled out due to back issues, Harshal reportedly suffered a side strain. 

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan have also announced their 14-member squad for the Asia Cup. Pakistan will miss star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been ruled out due to a ligament injury in his right knee. 

Furthermore, fast bowler Hasan Ali has replaced Mohammad Wasim, who has picked a side strain ahead of the tournament. 

Ahead of the marquee clash between India and Pakistan, here are some of the talking points: 

India vs Pakistan head-to-head in Asia Cup 

India have dominated Pakistan in the Asia Cup tournaments, having won eight of the 14 matches that they have played so far. Pakistan have secured just five victories. One match ended in no result. 

Both the sides met for the first time in the inaugural edition of the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1984 where Sunil Gavaskar-led India secured a 54-run victory. 

India and Pakistan have clashed only once in the T20I format of the Asia Cup. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, India beat Pakistan by five wickets at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh in 2016. 

Furthermore in T20I cricket, India have won six of the nine matches that they have clashed so far. Pakistan have registered just two victories. The other match ended in a tie, which the Men in Blue won via bowl-out. 

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy record in Asia Cup 

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India beat Bangladesh by three wickets in the Asia Cup 2018 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to retain the title. 

The Men in Blue remained unbeaten throughout the tournament as they registered five wins and one tie. 

Interestingly, India have never lost a match under Rohit Sharma in the Asia Cup history, winning all the five matches so far. 

The reigning champions will hope that Rohit can lead India to another Asia Cup title in 2022. 

Players to watch out for 

In-form Suryakumar Yadav could be the standout player for India in their first match of the Asia Cup 2022. The swashbuckling batter has been in scintillating form in 2022, having amassed 428 runs in 12 innings at a staggering strike rate of 189.39 and an average of 38.90. Following his impressive run this year, the Mumbai Indians star batter has jumped to the second spot in the T20I batters’ rankings, only behind Babar Azam. 

Former India captain Virat Kohli has scored the most runs against Pakistan in T20I cricket. The 33-year-old has accumulated 311 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 77.75 and a strike rate of 118.25. He has registered three fifties to his name against Pakistan in T20I format. Virat will aim to continue his scintillating form against the arch-rivals in Dubai. 

For Pakistan, Babar Azam will be the batter to watch out for. The world’s top-ranked T20I batter has been in sensational form in T20I cricket. Babar Azam has already amassed 2,686 runs in 74 T20Is at an average of 45.53 and a strike rate of 129.45. He has hit one hundred and 26 fifties in his T20I career so far. 

The much-awaited India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2022 Group A match will start at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) on Sunday, August 28. 

Come on, Paltan, let’s cheer for the Men in Blue!