Weight of expectation

Cricket is not played on paper or spreadsheets. If it were, India would already be crowned Asia Cup champions. On paper, they are easily the strongest side. But tournaments are not won on reputations, and India face challenges beyond team sheets — scorching heat, abrasive pitches, and the fact that their players haven’t played T20 cricket together since the IPL. Their campaign begins on Wednesday against the UAE, a fixture that may look straightforward but will test rhythm and readiness. Those are not minor details; they shape outcomes.

The gap since the IPL means India enter without the rhythm of a side in sync. Combinations take time to settle, and T20 allows no breathing space. The format is brutal — one bad over, one poor shot, and the momentum vanishes. This is what makes the Asia Cup tricky, even for the defending ICC T20 World Cup champions.

India’s last world title adds to the weight of expectation. But T20 is a beast of its own. Invincibility doesn’t exist here. Matches swing violently, from brilliance to collapse, in a matter of six balls. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav inherits a talented side but without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both opted out of this format, accepting that their time was done. Their absence leaves a void — not just in runs but in the experience of handling pressure moments. That knack of absorbing heat and delivering calm is not easily replaced.

At the top, Abhishek Sharma is exciting. He is fearless, aggressive, and unafraid to hit over the top. But he is also one-dimensional, and his form is non-negotiable. A couple of failures at the start could dent India’s rhythm. Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill, Surya, and Hardik Pandya form a menacing middle order. On paper, it’s a lineup that can take down any attack in 120 balls. The question is whether they can keep that intent under pressure, especially when conditions demand calculation over bravado.

Momentum will define India’s campaign. This team has been picked to attack, and that is how they must play. Anything less would blunt their edge. In the bowling department, India look better prepared. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy form a strong spin core — 12 overs that can choke opponents on turning tracks. But spinners can only dominate if the new-ball bowlers do their job. Early breakthroughs are critical. Otherwise, the pressure never builds. Pandya’s bowling could also be decisive. His variations in pace and length make him tailor-made for surfaces where change-ups are essential.

India enter as favourites, no doubt. Their depth, talent, and confidence from recent success make them formidable. Yet, T20 has a way of humbling teams that believe the script is theirs to control. In this format, reputations are fragile. Momentum is everything.

So while India may begin as the team to beat, conditions, surfaces, and the unpredictability of the shortest format will test them. They have the squad to win the Asia Cup, but they will need to earn it, ball by ball.

— The writer is a former captain of the Mumbai cricket team