T20 World Cup 2022: Haris Rauf warns India (Melbourne is my home country)

Haris Rauf, the 4th highest wicket-taker pacer for Pakistan in T20I, warns India ahead of their game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"If I give my best, they won't be able to play me easily.", said Haris Rauf.

The right-arm pacer, who plays for Melbourne stars in Big Bash League, said, "For the upcoming World Cup match, I'm very happy because it is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,".

He added, "It is my home ground because I play for the Melbourne Stars, and I have an idea of how the conditions play out there. I've already started planning on how I would bowl against India."

BBL Experience - an excellent asset for Haris Rauf

When Haris Rauf says he has good experience of playing at the MCG, he is not bluffing. He has got impressive numbers in BBL.

He replaced Dale Steyn in Melbourne Stars in 2019 and picked up 20 wickets from ten innings that season.

In 18 BBL games he played, he has taken 30 wickets. He even has a memorable hat trick against Sydney Thunders and his best figure of 5-27 against Hobart Hurricanes. Not only is he taking wickets with a strike rate of 12.27 he is also quite economical as he bowls with an economy of 7.71.

Can he shine against India?

Haris Rauf has played only three T20I against India taking two wickets. All three in Dubai and not much of a good performance.

He played two of these three games recently in the recently concluded Asia Cup, where he managed to take one wicket, while he played his first game against India in the 2021 World Cup, taking one wicket.

In the ongoing series of Pakistan against England, he has performed well. He has taken eight wickets in 5 games with the best figure of 3-32.

With the momentum, he is carrying and the kind of confidence MCG gives him, on 23 October, he is expected to provide tough competition to the Indian batters.