Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has cautioned the Indian batters ahead of the high-octane clash against Pakistan. While India posted 209 runs on the board against Namibia, they were not at their absolute best in the middle and death overs on Thursday.

India managed 58-3 from overs 7 to 14 after smashing 86 runs in the Powerplay overs. Furthermore, the Namibian bowlers were right on the money at the fag end of the innings. 

Ishan Kishan scored 61 runs off 24 balls whereas Hardik Pandya smashed 52 off 28 balls but barring these two, other batters struggled to get going. Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus returned with impressive figures of 4-20 in his quota of four overs.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is expected to play four spinners in Colombo, where the track is going to assist the spinners.

“I want to appreciate Namibia the way they restricted India to 210. It was a massive achievement. They dont get a lot of exposure throughout the year. We cant fault Namibia. But this was yet another match practice for India. But the skill that Gerhard Erasmus showed, it is something India will be wary of, because against Pakistan, we will have to play four spinners. So my biggest concern is how they will play some of these Pakistan spinners. There are some doubts in my mind about this now,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.

Ashwin said India would need to be guile in their batting approach against Pakistan at Colombo.

“India did struggle a bit against spin. It is some food or thought on how to handle spinners. Premadasa is a big stadium and they will have to take ones and twos, need not necessarily be a six-hitting ground,” he said.

India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Sunday.