Opinion: India vs Pakistan - why it won't be another one-sided affair

Pakistan will be seething for revenge and hopefully, India will face a more intense contest on September 23, the second time when the two teams will battle it out in the Asia Cup.

But this time it will be for the final spot.

On Wednesday, in front of a capacity crowd, the sub-continent neighbours resumed their cricket-rivalry with India thumping Pakistan by 8 wickets in a group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The game was the first between the two teams since Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the final of ICC Champions Trophy at London's Oval in June last year.

However, an all-round performance from the Men In Blue ensured an easy victory with pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinner Kedar Jadhav clinching three wickets each while skipper Rohit Sharma playing a crucial knock of 52 during India’s chase.

Pakistan, who brought what was regarded as their strongest squad to the Asia Cup, failed to deliver both in batting and bowling department.

The team's performance seemed like a mixture of nervousness mixed with a degree of incompetence.

After the opening partnership yielded very little, it was down to Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik to provide some semblance of respectability. And they surely did, taking Pakistan's score from 3 to 85 runs.

The two were strong but Kuldeep Yadav's googly broke the partnership to dismiss Azam for 47 runs.

However, his progress in ODIs is indeed one of the greatest positives in Pakistan cricket at the moment as his batting continued to show why the faith in his abilities by Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is fully justified.

His stroke-play and excellent temperament are improving with every innings and he was one of very few bright spots against India.

Malik, for his part, is the only survivor of the ‘veteran’ pack. His 43 under trying circumstances once again displayed his importance in a team that has a shortage of experienced players.

Likewise, Pakistani speedsters, who failed to deplete the Indian batting line-up, are expected to enter the ground with a different strategy.

And as said, cricket cannot afford the same mistake, and hence Pakistan will come back strong and this is something India has to take seriously despite having an edge over the neighbours.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)