Pakistan handed India a five-wicket drubbing in the series opener in Bangalore on Tuesday. No change is expected in Pakistan squad for today’s match.The hosts will have to quickly plug their batting shortcomings and pick the right team composition when they go into the second and last Twenty20 cricket international against arch rivals Pakistan on Friday, hoping to level the two match series 1-1 Pakistan, on the other hand, lived up to their reputation of a strong bowling unit with three specialist pacers – Gul, Sohail Tanvir and lanky debutant Mohammad Irfan – wrecking havoc on a pace-friendly Chinnaswamy track.They would look to carry on the momentum today also though the Sardar Patel track may not give them much assistance.
The visitors batting, however, has been a cause of concern for them with openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad struggling to provide a platform during their run chase at Bangalore.
Even the reliable Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal and failed to get big scores.Hafeez and Shoaib Malik were the saving grace and Pakistan would hope that they continue with their exploits along with the others striking form.Indian captain Dhoni had blamed the failure of the middle-order batsmen to capitalise on the good start as the reason for his team s defeat in the first match.
"The batsmen got out trying to play big shots. We could have easily scored 200 if we had applied ourselves," Dhoni had said.It remains to be seen whether the batsmen put up a better display now and not go for wreckless shots in a bid to accelerate the pace of scoring.Dhoni himself will be under intense pressure with his captaincy coming under the scanner in the aftermath of the recent Test debacle against England.
He has always been regarded as a better captain in the shorter formats of the game, but the recent defeats in T20 matches has certainly dented his reputation.The defeats have come at home, where the team is playing in familiar conditions, and Dhoni has a tough task in lifting the morale of the team.
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