‘We don’t have Shaheen, Naseem or Rauf to face...': Rohit Sharma on preparing for Pakistan’s pace attack

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is gearing up to face the formidable Pakistani pace attack, consisting of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, in their upcoming match on Saturday. These talented bowlers have consistently put pressure on the Indian top order in recent encounters. Whether it was Afridi's impressive performance in Dubai, where he dismantled the defenses of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, or Rauf and Naseem's dismissals of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav in Melbourne, India has found themselves vulnerable during the powerplay.

As the much-anticipated clash in Kandy draws near, Rohit Sharma was asked about his team's preparation to counter the menacing Pakistani pace attack. In his characteristic style, Rohit responded with one of his trademark punchlines.

“We don’t have Shaheen, Naseem or Rauf to face in the nets. We prepare with the ones we have. They’re quality bowlers. All three of them and have been performing together for quite some time now. Pakistan have always had quality bowlers," Indian skipper said.

Pakistan will enter their second and final group stage match on Saturday, following a resounding 238-run victory against Nepal in Multan on Wednesday. This remarkable outcome not only showcased the team's exceptional bowling prowess but also highlighted their formidable batting strength, with both captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed scoring centuries.

“They’re a very good team. Over the last few years, they’ve done really well. Whether it’s T20 or ODIs, no team becomes number one just like that. There’s hard work behind that and I’m sure this Pakistan team has done that. They look like a unit and have been playing good cricket. So it will be a challenge for us to play and perform against this side,” Rohit said.

With a formidable 17-man squad at his disposal for the Asia Cup, Rohit Sharma expressed his satisfaction in having a plethora of options available to him. The Indian team boasts five pacers and the versatile Hardik Pandya, providing a strong bowling department. Additionally, they have three spinners to choose from, further strengthening their arsenal.

In terms of batting, the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who missed a significant portion of the West Indies series, adds immense depth to the team. Furthermore, the comeback of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, who have recovered from back and thigh injuries respectively, further bolsters the batting lineup. However, it is worth noting that Rahul has been ruled out of the opening two fixtures of the Asia Cup.

“All sorts of combinations are available. We saw in yesterday’s game, there was a bit of swing, bit of spin, we saw everything. That is always challenging. It is always going to challenge batters. Luckily we’ve got an experienced lineup and I’ll let that come in play accordingly,” he added.

“Yes, I’ve said we want to try and take the game on but it’s important to read the situation and conditions as well. It’s not a T20 format, it’s a 50-over format. You have to apply a little more than T20 cricket and apply for a little longer,” Rohit concluded.

READ| IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023: What is Virat Kohli's record against Pakistan in the Asia Cup?