Asia Cup 2022: Ricky Ponting backs Rohit Sharma-led India to beat Pakistan and win the title

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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes Rohit Sharma-led India will emerge as winners of their key conflict with Pakistan within the upcoming Asia Cup and even go on to bag the title.

India will tackle Babar Azam’s Pakistan in a highly-anticipated match in Dubai on August 28.

Pakistan have a lead of their general head-to-head file in opposition to India however on the Asia Cup, India have a 7-5 benefit (one no outcome) from 13 matches.

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Ponting, who led Australia to 2 ODI World Cup titles, stated he’s trying ahead to the match and that the battle can be intense.

“To be totally honest it’s one that we’ve been starved of, haven’t we … looking back the last 15 or 20 years,” Ponting stated on The ICC Review.

“As a cricket lover like I am and a cricket observer, any time those sorts of battles come up it’s almost always nice to sit back and watch because everything just goes up a notch, doesn’t it?”

Ponting additionally shared his view on who he thinks will emerge because the winner. He stated it’ll possible be an in depth contest however India have the sting.

“I’ll stick with India to win that clash against Pakistan,” stated the 47-year-old. “That’s taking nothing away from Pakistan because they are an incredible cricket nation that continue to present out-and-out superstar players.”

Head coach Rahul Dravid and the choice panel have chopped and altered the squads fairly a bit however India have nonetheless been spectacular within the shortest format this yr, profitable 17 of their 21 T20Is.

Ponting added: “It’s always hard to go past India in any tournament, not just an Asia Cup, but I think every time we talk about the T20 World Cup which is coming up, I think that India will be right in the thick of it there. Their depth is definitely better than the other teams and I think India will win the Asia Cup.”

Ponting additionally stated that Mohammed Shami, who wasn’t included in India’s squad for the Asia Cup, may make a comeback for the T20 World Cup later this yr in Australia.

“He’s been a very, very good bowler for India for a long time now. If you look at his strengths, his Test cricket is probably where he thrives the most,” stated Ponting.

“I think there are better fast bowlers in Indian T20 cricket than Shami and they’ve only named three (for the Asia Cup). So if there’s potentially four named in the squad he might be the fourth man in. I would think they’ll probably only have the four quicks coming to Australia. They’ll still want to bring a lot of spin here even though the wickets are probably not that conducive.”

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