Ravi Shastri, during a recent conversation with ESPNcricinfo, underscoredthe significance of batsmen emulating Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam.According to Shastri, Azam possesses the exceptional ability to transformpromising starts in the 30s and 40s into magnificent centuries, a talent hedeems vital for top-order batsmen. “He [Babar] transforms those initial 30sand 40s into triple-digit scores. And this is immensely crucial. While weoften stress the importance of facing many deliveries, when one of your topthree batsmen notches a century, you’re looking at a total beyond 300,”Shastri stated.
Shastri also offered his insights regarding the upcoming Asia Cup 2023match that will feature a high-stakes clash between arch-rivals India andPakistan. This fiery encounter is scheduled to take place at Pallekele on aSaturday. “I’d say India enters the match as favorites. This squad is thestrongest we’ve seen since 2011, with a blend of exceptionally talentedplayers,” Shastri remarked. He also praised India’s seasoned captain whopossesses a profound understanding of the playing conditions.
However, Shastri acknowledged that Pakistan has narrowed the gap betweenthe two teams in recent years. He reflected on the state of affairs aroundseven to eight years ago when there was a noticeable disparity in strengthbetween the two sides. “Pakistan has made significant progress, and theyare now a formidable team. To succeed, you have to be at your best whenfacing them,” Shastri concluded, acknowledging the fierce competition thatawaits in the upcoming match.
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In summary, Ravi Shastri’s conversation with ESPNcricinfo centered on theimportance of emulating Babar Azam’s ability to convert starts intocenturies for top-order batsmen. He expressed India’s status as favoritesin the upcoming India-Pakistan match due to the strength of their squad andthe seasoned leadership of their captain. However, he acknowledgedPakistan’s improvement and emphasized the need for India to bring theirA-game to the contest. This anticipation of the clash intensifies theexcitement surrounding the Asia Cup 2023
