As India and Pakistan gear up for another thrilling Super Four clash in the Asia Cup this Sunday, the pre-match buzz isn’t just about the cricket. Virat Kohli’s longtime childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has voiced his opinion on the recent off-field controversies, particularly the much-discussed “no handshake” incident.
The previous group stage encounter saw India comfortably defeat Pakistan by seven wickets, chasing a target of 128 thanks to Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive spell of 3/18. However, the cricketing action was overshadowed by the post-match scenes, where Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube opted not to shake hands with the Pakistani players, sparking significant debate.
Sharma believes Pakistan is overly focused on this incident. “The Pakistan team should concentrate on their game instead of magnifying the handshake issue with Indian players,” he stated in an interview with ANI. “This kind of unnecessary drama diminishes the true spirit and excitement of an India-Pakistan clash.”
He further commented that the gap in cricketing prowess between the two nations has significantly grown. “While these matches once carried immense anticipation, there’s no real competition anymore. India is vastly superior, and frankly, even teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka appear stronger than Pakistan,” Sharma asserted.
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From a tactical standpoint, Sharma recommended that India bat first. “If India sets a target, Pakistan will immediately feel the pressure as they aren’t known for their strong chasing abilities,” he pointed out.
The coach also lauded the impressive form of young opener Abhishek Sharma, who has consistently provided India with explosive starts. “Abhishek’s natural style is to dominate from the outset, and he’s been batting exceptionally well. While opposing teams will undoubtedly plan against him, success will hinge on his execution and ability to counter those strategies,” Sharma explained.
For their upcoming match in Dubai, India will once again depend on their formidable spin trio: Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel, hoping they can repeat their past successes. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s spin attack, led by Mohammed Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed, will be keen to disrupt India’s strategy.