There’s little to separate India and Pakistan, on paper and on form. In a semi-final of micron-thin margins, tactics can make a small, but critical difference.
India vs Pakistan: Target the powerplay spinner
Both teams have worries regarding their second frontline seamer, both in terms of selection and form. Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra and Sreesanth have struggled to deliver for India, while Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Akhtar have proved expensive for Pakistan. Both teams have tried to mask this problem by using a spinner with the new ball — R Ashwin for India and either Abdur Rehman or Mohd Hafeez for Pakistan.
Successfully targetting this spinner can put the fielding captain under immense pressure, forcing him to bring on the problematic second seamer early, into a pressure situation. For the Indians, this won't necessitate any massive change in plan — Virender Sehwag will go after whichever bowler he faces — but the Pakistan team management might try and tell either Mohammad Hafeez or Kamran Akmal to try and mess with Ashwin's line and length by stepping down the pitch or playing unorthodox shots like the reverse sweep.
MS Dhoni has an astounding record against Pakistan, with over a thousand runs in just 24 matches, including a century and eight fifties. Shahid Afridi doesn't have numbers like that, but has played enough game-changing innings against India to have created some sort of psychological impact.
In a match of this nature, the captain promoting himself up the order could bring about some flutters in the rival camp. Afridi, considering his terrible run with the bat in the tournament, would have little to lose from such a move.
India vs Pakistan: Target the powerplay spinner
Both teams have worries regarding their second frontline seamer, both in terms of selection and form. Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra and Sreesanth have struggled to deliver for India, while Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Akhtar have proved expensive for Pakistan. Both teams have tried to mask this problem by using a spinner with the new ball — R Ashwin for India and either Abdur Rehman or Mohd Hafeez for Pakistan.
Successfully targetting this spinner can put the fielding captain under immense pressure, forcing him to bring on the problematic second seamer early, into a pressure situation. For the Indians, this won't necessitate any massive change in plan — Virender Sehwag will go after whichever bowler he faces — but the Pakistan team management might try and tell either Mohammad Hafeez or Kamran Akmal to try and mess with Ashwin's line and length by stepping down the pitch or playing unorthodox shots like the reverse sweep.
MS Dhoni has an astounding record against Pakistan, with over a thousand runs in just 24 matches, including a century and eight fifties. Shahid Afridi doesn't have numbers like that, but has played enough game-changing innings against India to have created some sort of psychological impact.
In a match of this nature, the captain promoting himself up the order could bring about some flutters in the rival camp. Afridi, considering his terrible run with the bat in the tournament, would have little to lose from such a move.
