The India and Pakistan teams for the upcoming limited overs series are very similar in terms of batting strength. A generous amount of young batting talent is bolstered by some experienced minds. The spin bowling department too looks at par with R Ashwin and Saeed Ajmal leading the way for their respective teams. Effective part-time spinners are also present in both teams.
However, if there’s one area that separates the two teams’ strengths, it is fast bowling. In Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan have two seasoned limited-overs specialists who have the wherewithal and the experience to succeed in India.
India, on the other hand, are still looking for a settled pace bowling attack, experimenting with youngsters like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Parvinder Awana and Shami Ahmed. The most experienced pacer in the squad – Ishant Sharma – hasn’t played an international one-day match since June 2011.
Tanvir admits this is where Pakistan have an upper hand over the hosts. “India’s current fast bowlers are not much experienced. Although they have played in the IPL, international cricket is different,” Tanvir said.
“Right now, India doesn’t have a fixed pace attack. They’re still trying to form a right attack by picking and choosing from the young pacers. They’re not sure who to play in the next match. It is an advantage for us that they are lacking in the fast bowling department.”
What also elevates Tanvir’s confidence coming into this series are his past performances on Indian soil. Tanvir announced himself to the world in IPL 2008 while playing for the Rajasthan Royals; he emerged the tournament’s highest wicket-taker that season.
“Fortunately, I have always done well in India. I bowled well the last time we toured here, in 2007 and I had a lot of success in the IPL as well. The wickets in India and Pakistan are almost similar to each other and having played a lot of cricket here will definitely help as well,” the pacer said.
With experience behind him, Tanvir has an added responsibility of playing mentor to the young pacers in the team, and as a senior to guide the players who are touring India for the first time.
“India-Pakistan is always a pressure contest and it’s more than cricket. We have been talking to the younger guys,” Tanvir said. They all know that performing well against India makes you an instant star. They’re all talented and we’re hoping they will deliver.”
Tanvir refused to read too much into India’s recent struggles against England and denied the hosts will be lacking in confidence. He believes that form takes a backseat when India and Pakistan lock horns on the cricket field.
“When India and Pakistan play each other, form doesn’t matter and passion takes over. That’s the reason the contests between these two countries are invariably very exciting,” he noted.
