An Indo-Pak battle is a showpiece event in every arena; and on the cricket field it gets more elevated. In what promises to be one of the most exciting curtain raisers to the coveted ICC World T20 tournament in recent years, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be seen at loggerheads yet again in the shortest version of the game today. In as many as eight attempts - five times in 50-over World Cup and thrice in World Twenty20 - Pakistan have failed to breach the Indian fortress and India will be hoping to keep their record safe.
Here are few players to watch out for in today's high-profile clash:
Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli is arguably the best India batsman in supreme touch. The Delhi boy has been breaking records at will and have thrashed even the best of the bowlers all over the park with ease. His ability to perfom in pressure situations makes him one of the deadliest batsman in all forms of the game. He has the cricketing brain to play according the situation and most of the time he has bailed India out of trouble. His aggressive and nonchalant batting approach has earned him over 550 runs in his short T20 international career. India will rely on him heavily today and want him to come out all guns blazing.
MS Dhoni: A welcome change for India since the Asia Cup loss will be the return of MS Dhoni, who sat out the tournament due to an injury. He is back to captain the side that has Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina back as well for a format that suits them the best. His ability to hold wickets in pressure situations and then accelerate at the death overs has earned him accolades all over. Since winning the inaugural World T20 in 2007, India have failed to make the semi-finals in each of the next three editions but if India wants to repeat the feat of 2007, Dhoni will be key to it and his decision making today can make the difference between the two arch-rivals.
Ravindra Jadeja: Left-arm spinners are always in demand in this format and his ability to shine with the bat makes him a key player in the line-up. The man who was criticised couple of years back has calmed his critics. He has been one of the key Indian player off late and has helped India win a number of matches of late with both bat and ball. Jadeja has slammed over 1100 runs and notched up 39 wickets in his IPL career so far and his performance can have a big impact in this World Twenty20 opener.
Saeed Ajmal: The mystery spinner has got to be the trump card for Pakistan in World T20 and specially against India. India in the past have faced trouble to figure out the offspinner and in the shortest format of the game where every ball is important, he can pose lot of questions. Ajmal notched up the number one rank amongst ODI bowlers and third spot in the list of T20 bowlers after troubling the batsmen with his spin variations. Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez will count on him to get the better of India's formidable middle order.
Shahid Afridi: Often criticised for his 'six-or-nothing' approach, Afridi will be the most important player for Pakistan. It was on the back of Afridi's whirwind knock that Pakistan defeated India in the Asia Cup and his team will once again want the dashing allrounder to hurt India early in World T20. Afridi plays the game with great passion and on his day he can be unstoppable. Moreover, India should have a plan ready to deal with the dangerous Afridi.
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