The India-Pakistan clash in the ICC World T20 is a battle for redemption -- for India, a chance to get their campaign back on track; for Pakistan, an opportunity to change history, says Dhruv Munjal.
Ten matches spanning more than two decades, and no wins. That is the kind of mental trauma with which Pakistan will head into their clash with India in the ICC World T20 in Kolkata this evening.
Before any World Cup game between the countries, these damning numbers are invariably thrown up; Pakistan are forced to relive a forlorn run of results that date back to the 1992 World Cup -- the first time the world was introduced to coloured clothing.
For Pakistan though, the World Cup canvas while playing India has been blank, a series of unprecedented failures that has gone on for maybe far too long.
In recent years, India have evolved into a rampaging cricket force while Pakistan are still the erratic, sporadically-brilliant team of old. The last time the two sides met in a World Cup -- in Adelaide last year -- it was a mere reassertion of the same. India were too strong in all three departments, racking up a comfortable win that was never even remotely in doubt.
Had India not capitulated so alarmingly against New Zealand in the tournament opener on Tuesday, Pakistan would have been a routine fixture that would have ideally entailed a routine win. But Pakistan's hammering of Bangladesh, coupled with India's loss to the Kiwis, has given this game enormous billing, if it ever needed one.
The hyperbole and jingoism are bound to be mere subplots now; this is a hugely important cricket match that comes with the perilous possibility of India crashing out of a World Cup that many feel is their destiny.
The potential of this ending in a crude mishap for the best T20 team in the world is now a startling reality.
Against New Zealand, India were dreadful with the bat in hand, meekly succumbing to a bunch of rookie spinners. The application was shambolic and the result, rather expectedly, calamitous.
Madan Lal, former Indian fast bowler who knows a thing or two about World Cups, says that India just need to regroup. "They have been playing so well for the last few weeks. Hopefully, this was just a one-off game. They will come back strongly against Pakistan," he says.
Pakistan were rampant against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Wednesday, with their batting finally clicking into gear and skipper Shahid Afridi playing just the way most of us have forgotten he can. A dazzling 19-ball 49 was followed by two wickets with the ball; finally a colossal performance from a player who after so many years is still the heartbeat of the Pakistani side.
Former Indian wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia says that New Zealand's performance was the perfect example of the unpredictability of the T20 game; a demonstration of how even the best can be humbled when they're not on their game.
"Anybody can beat anybody. Pakistan will play like New Zealand. India must plan accordingly," he says. India's bowling against the Kiwis was purposeful and the fielding impressive, but the batting struggled to get into any kind of rhythm -- the kind of performance that gives captains and coaches iffy, sleepless nights.
On paper, India will still start as favourites. One appalling game doesn't make them a poor side. For Pakistan to overcome India, all cogs of their team wheel must roll in splendid symphony. They must be hoping that Kolkata succeeds where Sydney, Bangalore, Centurion, Johannesburg and so many others miserably failed.
Down memory lane
Here are the three of the greatest World Cup encounters between the two teams over the years:
Bangalore, March 9, 1996
This was a time when the antipathy between the two teams had reached fever pitch. This match will forever be remembered for two things: Ajay Jadeja taking Waqar Younis to the cleaners in a brutal late assault, and a heated exchange between Venkatesh Prasad and Aamir Sohail that almost snowballed into a fist fight. Prasad's three-wicket haul and a 93 from Navjot Singh Sidhu saw the hosts win this quarter-final by 39 runs.
Centurion, March 1, 2003
On a warm afternoon, Sachin Tendulkar once again exhibited the full mastery he had over the pace of Shoaib Akhtar. Against Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag stitched together one of the most memorable partnerships in World Cup cricket.
The searing square cut, the flick through square-leg, audacious sixes over point -- this was Tendulkar at his absolute peak. His blistering 98 helped India win by five wickets.
Johannesburg, September 24, 2007
Joginder Sharma played only four T20s for India, yet he will always be an intrinsic part of India's cricketing folklore. His heroic last over that saw Misbah-ul-Haq take Pakistan to the brink of victory and then to agonising defeat still lingers in the memory.
A valiant bowling effort saw India win by five runs and clinch the inaugural ICC World T20.
The key factors
Mohammad Amir
In the Asia Cup last month, Mohammad Amir terrorised the Indian top order with the kind of swing and pace that reminded everyone of a certain Wasim Akram. Thanks to Amir's guile, India nearly fudged up a run chase in which they required only 84.
The Eden Gardens track will be unlike the spitting cobra we saw in Nagpur on Tuesday, and Amir could prove to be more than a handful. The Indian batsmen would do well to see Amir out and target the other Paksitani bowlers.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been Mahendra Singh Dhoni's main weapons throughout this T20 season. The Indian skipper has used the two shrewdly, stifling the opposition in the process.
Ashwin was at the wrong end of a few lusty blows against New Zealand, but remains a genuine force. Jadeja, despite getting some stick, has made a habit of picking up wickets. Pakistan, in the past, have struggled against quality spin and Dhoni will be eager to exploit that.
Fielding
In the last couple of years, India have established themselves as one of the top fielding sides in the world. Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli are all world-class fielders who can change the complexion of a game with an eye-popping catch or run out.
Pakistan still come across as laboured in that department, with big fast bowlers struggling to get around in the outfield. In a game with minuscule margins, the way the two sides field will be vital.
