Cricket: Three Ideas to Indian team to down arch rial Pakistan

An Indo-Pak encounter on a cricket field, besides bringing the game's biggest animosity to the fore, has the capacity to go beyond just a game. And while it always keeps the umpires and match referees on the toes, fans expect their players to go for the enemy's head in a bloodless war.

That's when on-field spats like the one between Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi, or the more famous one between Venkatesh Prasad and Aamir Sohail, turn the encounter into an over-brewed coffee that results in a glut of energy.

The team that channelizes this energy to its advantage and is in command of its nerves comes on top and the result of this 'Match of the Century' hinges on this dynamic.

Besides that, the cricketing point of view presents different challenges for the Indian team, and here, the shrewdness of Indian think-tank would count.

Hit where it hurts the most

The potency of Pakistan as a team has grown manifold due to their captain playing the leading role and if India can blunt Afridi, the bowler, Pakistan will surely be taken aback. The Pakistan skipper has led from the front in their big wins over Sri Lanka, Australia and the West Indies. If we take his 21 wickets, which is the highest tally of this World Cup, out of the equation, there will be different hue to the Pakistan picture.

Whether India attack Afridi or block him out, keeping him wicket-less will present Pakistan a scenario they haven't yet faced in this World Cup.

Keep the openers on the mat

An unsettled opening pair has been Pakistan's biggest problem in this World Cup. Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal have failed to get their team off to starts. Here, Zaheer Khan can play a pivotal role. Since Pakistan don't have a noteworthy lower-middle order, MS Dhoni can give Zaheer an extended spell at the top. Keeping his overs in the bank was a wise move against Australia and West Indies, but against Pakistan, 'Zak' can be lethal against a brittle top order and win half the battle for India.

Add fire to pace attack

Subcontinent players have grown older playing spinners. Whether its India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, their batters feel more at home against a spinning ball rather than a seaming or swinging ball. And India would give Pakistan plenty to think if they bring in S Sreesanth instead of Munaf Patel. Some may say it's too big a match to tinker with a winning combination, but if Sreesanth controls his three-pronged (speed, swing and aggression) edge to his advantage, he can prove menacing for Pakistan.

The above also suggests that this is a match between Indian batsmen and Pakistan bowlers and if Indian batters keep Afridi wicket-less and bowlers make early inroads into Pakistan batting, the game should be there for India to win. Easier said than done, though! After all, it's India vs Pakistan!