Cheteshwar Pujara picks India’s playing XI for Pakistan clash, leaves out Dinesh Karthik

In what is being called the mother of all clashes, India and Pakistan are gearing up to lock horns on August 28 to kick-start their respective Asia Cup 2022 campaigns. Just like any other Indo-Pak clash, stakes are incredibly high in the upcoming contest and both teams would be raring to emerge victorious. Meanwhile, veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has named his preferred India’s playing XI for the high-voltage clash.

While most of the players picked themselves up in Pujara’s XI, Ravichandran Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik are the two notable absentees. It must be noted that Karthik has enjoyed a purple patch ever since the start of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and Ashwin’s recent T20I numbers are impressive. However, Pujara, who named his XI while speaking to ESPNcricinfo, reckons the duo should warm the benches against Babar Azam’s men.

Meanwhile, skipper Rohit Sharma and his deputy KL Rahul are unsurprisingly the openers in Pujara’s line-up while Virat Kohli follows them at three. In the middle order, the Test specialist went with the dashing trio of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya. Ravindra Jadeja is the other all-rounder in the line-up besides Pandya.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh are the three specialist pacers in the XI while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took the remaining spot.

Team India eyeing redemption

The Men in Blue will have a point to prove in the upcoming clash as they suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat when the two Asian giants met last in the T20 World Cup 2021. On the other hand, Babar Azam’s men must leave no stones unturned to replicate their heroics. Notably, both teams are missing their respective pace spearheads in form of Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Afridi, who are down with injuries.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s India Playing XI for Pakistan clash: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal