Ravi Shastri, in a candid conversation with ESPNcricinfo, underscores the significance of batters taking inspiration from Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam.

According to Shastri, Azam possesses a remarkable ability to transform promising starts in the 30s and 40s into glorious centuries—a skill he considers essential for top-order batsmen.

“He [Babar] converts those 30s and 40s starts into hundreds. And it is so important. We keep saying to go out there and face a number of balls, but if one of your top three gets a hundred, you get 300-plus,” Shastri remarked.

Shastri also shared his thoughts on the highly-anticipated Asia Cup 2023 clash between India and Pakistan, two fierce rivals set to collide at Pallekele on Saturday.

“I would say India start as favorites. This is their strongest team since 2011, this mix of players,” Shastri declared. “And a captain who is seasoned, who understands the terrain better than most.”