No. 3 batter would be Virat Kohli – Sanjay Manjrekar picks his Indian playing XI against Pakistan in the Asia Cup

As India gear up for their mega clash against their arch-rivals Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023, a lot of speculation has already started taking shape pertaining to the playing XI for the 2nd of September. Amidst the deluging forecast coming in from all angles, Sanjay Manjrekar chipped in with his two-pence about what should be India’s best playing XI against Pakistan at the Pallekele International Stadium.

Talking to ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said, “My three seamers would be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. Hardik Pandya would be my fourth seamer. My spinners would be (Ravindra) Jadeja and Kuldeep (Yadav). My openers would be Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. No. 3 batter would be Virat Kohli. KL Rahul would play because he is the keeper.”

The former Indian cricketer further added, “Either Shreyas Iyer or Tilak Varma could play [in the middle-order]. I am saying this because in India’s first-choice side XI, the first seven (six) batters, including Hardik Pandya, are all right-handers. Somewhere, India will have to fit a left-hander in Tilak Varma. This is a problem India has.”

Out of the two meetings in the last Asia Cup that was played in the T20I format, India started the campaign with a sumptuous win over their arch-rivals but slumped down to Pakistan in the second fixture after a thrilling battle between the two sides. If things go right, the two teams can meet each other thrice in the tournament including the grand finale.

Sanjay Manjrekar’s Indian playing XI against Pakistan: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/ Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj