Asia Cup 2022: Best XI from Group Stage

The group stage of Asia Cup 2022 came to an end on Friday (September 2). It was India and Afghanistan who played some impeccable cricket to top their respective groups. Sri Lanka and Pakistan overcame the early stutter and grabbed the other two places. We have witnessed many batting heroics and bowling brilliance so far in this tournament. Players have risen to the occasion and delivered for their side. Pakistan's wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has been the highest run-getter whereas Mohammad Nawaz has been the highest wicket-taker at the group stages of the tournament. Here’s a look at the Best Playing XI from the group stage of the Asia Cup 2022 1. Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) Mohammed Rizwan is the pillar of Pakistan's batting order and has had an excellent outing in the multi-nation tournament so far. He has been the top run-getter this tournament scoring 121 runs at a strike rate of 121.22. Rizwan shepherded the innings beautifully after losing skipper Babar Azam early in both matches. In the outing against the Men in Blue, he failed to convert a good start but in the second outing, he showed sheer class. On a difficult pitch, he assessed the conditions, built his innings, and exploded at the end. The 30-year-old is a run-banker for the Men in Green. Rizwan being in form gives the much-needed assurance for the stroke makers to just go after the bowling at the other end. 2. Kusal Mendis (wk) (SL) Kusal Mendis has been a vital cog in Sri Lanka's batting order in recent times. A batter who generally bats in the middle order was told to slot in at the top and he did not disappoint his side. The wicket-keeper batter scored 62 runs at a strike rate of 151.22 in the group stages. After having a poor start to the campaign, Mendis scored a vital half-century in a must-win game and helped his team to qualify for the Super Fours. A naturally aggressive batsman, Mendis has a range of eye-pleasing strokes and possesses the ability to penetrate any side of the ground. The batter is equally capable to hit seam and spin which makes him a threat to the bowlers. 3. Virat Kohli (IND) Virat Kohli who was making a comeback to cricket in this marquee tournament showed glimpses of his old classic self. The former Indian captain was back amongst the runs and played an important part in India’s unbeaten run at the early stages of the competition. The 33-year-old was the top run-getter scoring 94 runs at a strike rate of 120.51. He was solid at No.3 and helped India stabilize after a wicket fell. Though he had a scratchy start in the first match, the Indian ace-batter did well to keep the Pakistan bowlers at bay. In the game against Hong Kong, he came into his own and played an ideal knock as per the conditions. Kohli seems to have found his mojo and will be very instrumental in India’s title defense. 4. Suryakumar Yadav (IND) Suryakmar Yadav came into the tournament with a rich vein of form. He has continued his merry ways dismantling bowling attacks at will. Yadav has scored 86 runs at a staggering strike rate of 195.45. After failing to convert the start in the match against Pakistan, the 31-year-old did not disappoint in the Hong Kong game. He played a breathtaking innings of 68 off just 26 balls. India's 360-degree batter showed his range with some incredible hitting. The addition of Suryakumar has added flare to the Indian setup. The middle-order batter has been instrumental in India playing an aggressive brand of cricket and his form will be crucial for the Men in Blue going forward. 5. Najibullah Zadran (AFG) Najibullah Zadran is experiencing an amazing tournament so far having scored 45 runs at an insane strike rate of 236.84. It has been seven years since he made his international debut and with years, he has added more finesse to his explosiveness. The middle-order batter has been a pressure-handler in Afghanistan's lineup of powerful hitters. In the Bangladesh game, he came in a crunch situation, soaked in the pressure, and then went all guns blazing. His knock of 43 runs comprised six magnificent sixes. The veteran batter who has experience of playing 80 T20Is is one of the mainstays of Afghanistan's batting. Nabi & Co. are looking more threatening than ever in the Asia Cup and Zadran’s form is one of the reasons. 6. Hardik Pandya (IND) Hardik Pandya is arguably one of the best all-rounders in limited-overs cricket at the moment. The game against Pakistan proved why he is regarded as such. In an intense game, he delivered with the ball and bat to take the Men in the Blue home. With the ball, Hardik was brought into the attack to break a threatening stand. He dented the opposition with triple blows and denied the Men in Green an above par-total. In the chase, the ace-all-rounder came in with the game at knife’s edge, held his composure, and played a match-winning knock of 33 runs. The ace all-rounder can be stated as one of the most important members of the Indian setup. Hardik brings the much-needed balance to the side and can prove to be a match-winner with both bat and ball. 7. Mosaddek Hossain (BAN) Mosaddek Hossain is one of the modern-day gems Bangladesh Cricket has unearthed. He is a utility cricketer with the ability to bat and bowl. The 26-year-old was one of the major shining lights in Bangladesh’s disappointing Asia Cup campaign. He scored 72 runs at a strike rate of 180 without being dismissed even once. Playing as a finisher, he played some mouth-watering innings to take his side to a better position. His knock of 48* runs against Afghanistan came in when his side was in a spot of bother. Mosaddek soaked in the pressure and took his side to a respectable total. He also bowled a miserly spell of 12 for 1 in 2.3 overs to strangle the opposition. In the match against Sri Lanka as well he showed his range of shots in his entertaining cameo of 24 off nine deliveries. He is one of the exciting prospects in Bangladesh and is looked on as a future star. 8. Mohammad Nawaz (PAK) Mohammed Nawaz is an all-rounder with the left-arm orthodox spin being his stronger suit. He bats generally at No.8 and provides a much-needed depth to his side. The 28-year-old has been having a remarkable Asia Cup campaign and stands as the highest wicket-taker at the end of the preliminary stages. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner has taken six wickets in two games at an economy of 6.7. Nawaz was crucial in leading his team’s fightback with the big wickets of Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the game against the Men in Blue. In the second game, he decimated Hong Kong’s middle order to help his side enter the Super Fours. Nawaz’s stocks have risen in the recent past and he has become a constant member of Pakistan’s setup. The pitches in UAE seem to have added the bite to Nawaz’s bowling and he will be key to strangling opposition in the middle overs at the latter stages of the competition. 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG) Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been at his consistent best this tournament. The mystery spinner has picked five wickets at an economy of just five. He has delivered time and again when asked of him. The 21-year-old bamboozled the Sri Lankan middle-order in the inaugural match with his variations. Then in the second encounter, he ripped apart the top order of Bangladesh. In this tournament, Mujeeb has even seemed to have shadowed the ace-spinner Rashid Khan with his performances. The mystery spinner has been a prime weapon for his side in the powerplay and Nabi & Co. has banked on him to set the tone with the ball. Mujeeb seems to be tailor-made for limited overs cricket and is considered peerless in the T20 circuit. 10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (IND) Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been impeccable at all the phases of the game. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, he carried the mantle of Indian pace-attack and bowled the Men in Blue through to the Super Fours. India’s swing king picked five wickets in two matches at an economy of 5.85. Bhuvneshwar rattled Babar & Co. in his first game and was one of the chief architects of the win against the Men in Green. The veteran bowler carried on his good work in the second game as well. Bhuvneshwar’s class has shielded the rather less experience pace-attack in this tournament. India’s ace bowler will hold the cards again at the business end of the competition. 11. Naseem Shah (PAK) Naseem Shah has been sensational in Asia Cup 2022. He has got his team to a perfect start with the ball and it does not seem the youngster has made just his T20I debut in this tournament. The 19-year-old has taken four wickets in two matches at an economy of 5.67. Making his debut in a high-profile India-Pakistan game, he got rid of KL Rahul in his first over and then broke a threatening stand between Suryakumar and Ravindra Jadeja. In the match against Hong Kong, he dented the opposition with two wickets to give his team an ideal start. The void created by the absence of Shaheen Afridi was filled beautifully by Naseem. He has shown a lot of promise in his bowling and is an exciting prospect for the Men in Green.

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Asia Cup 2022: Best XI from Group Stage

Mohammad Rizwan has been the highest run-getter whereas Mohammad Nawaz has been the highest wicket-taker at the group stages of the tournament

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