TIL Desk Sports/ The spotlight will on the India-Pakistan rivalry when the six-nation Asia Cup cricket tournament begins here Sept. 15. India under the leadership of stand-in captain Rohit Sharma will be the favorites along with Pakistan. The two traditional rivals have been grouped together in Group A.
India is the most successful team in the Asia Cup, having won six of the 13 editions of the tournament. But this time it will be an uphill task for the Indian players as they will miss the services of regular skipper Virat Kohli.
But on the pitches of Dubai where the spinners will get a turn, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav should be a handful. Kedar Jadhav who is also making his comeback to the side could also support the spinning duo if the situation demands.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has won the tournament twice. The first time in 2000, when the team beat Sri Lanka in the final, and then in 2012. Fakhar Zaman with his disciplined batting is capable of turning a match with the support of Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed.
