IND v HK Asia Cup 2022: India might experiment, can Hong Kong turn fortunes like 2018?

New Delhi: India and Pakistan are clear favourites to qualify for the Super 4s after winning their games against Hong Kong. On the other hand, Hong Kong, who did not lose a game in the Qualifiers round, will look to cause some trouble to their chances. With much less buzz than the India-Pakistan encounter, the game can still be thrilling.

The last time when India faced Hong Kong in the 2018 Asia Cup, the latter put up a 174-run opening stand during the chase. While India is the clear favourite in the encounter, one should not underestimate Hong Kong.

India’s Squad Analysis

It is clear that the management is preferring Dinesh Karthik over Rishabh Pant, while Ravindra Jadeja plays the role of left-handed batter in the team. However, Pant was seen in the training session while Karthik was given rest, this might be an indication of Pant playing the wicketkeeper-batter role against Hong Kong.

Kohli looked better in his 100th T20I and scored 35(34). India still looks dependent on the strong middle order and in the top order, KL Rahul has something to prove as he returns from an injury. India’s bowling contingent looks fine with Bhuvneshwar leading the attack and Hardik Panya providing the balance. However, we might see a few changes in combinations for the game against Hong Kong.

Captain Rohit Sharma also indicated that the Asia Cup is a ground for experimentation to play their best XI in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. The game surely has some surprises for Indian fans.

Hong Kong’s Squad Analysis

Hong Kong has preferred to train at night to avoid the heat, but avoiding the heat of the situation and facing India would not be easy. A fun fact is that Hong Kong’s coach Trent Johnston was part of the Irish team which defeated Pakistan in the 2007 ICC World Cup and England in the 2011 ICC World Cup.

Captain Nizakat Khan will be a batter to look out for. He scored 89 runs in three innings in the Qualifiers, including a fifty. He is the same batter who was close to scoring a century against India in 2018. His 92(115) against India will always be remembered by Hong Kong fans. Babar Hayat, who scored 97 runs in three innings, out of which he remained not out in two in the Qualifiers, is another batter to look out for. Even wicketkeeper Kinchit Shah adds to the balance in the batting lineup.

In the bowling department, Ehsan Khan looks like a destructive off-break bowler. He picked nine wickets in Qualifiers with best figures of 4/24 against UAE. His career average stands at 17.65 and has an economy of 6.06 in T20Is. Among the pacers, all-rounder Aizaz Khan will be someone to watch out for.

However, a thing to note is that all these records by Hong Kong’s cricketers have come against teams which are not as good as India. With nothing there to lose, Hong Kong can go out and lay their best cricket as they again have got a chance to show their sport to the world.