Asia Cup 2018: 5 milestones waiting for Indian team in today's game against Pakistan

India is all set to take on their arch-rivals Pakistan today at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Unlike the previous game, this India-Pakistan encounter will have a lot at stake for both the teams. A win for any, India or Pakistan, will see them cruising to the finals of the Asia Cup 2018.

India and Pakistan will approach the match with a lot of confidence after having won their previous games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan respectively. Besides a good encounter on the cards, the Indian team will be awaiting a handful of milestones in the game against Pakistan.

Thus, in this feature, we will have a look at five milestones that the Indian team will be waiting for in the upcoming game against their immediate neighbors.

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#1 Yuzvendra Chahal approaching 50 ODI wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal, the Indian leg-spinner, has been on an upward curve in the scheme of limited overs cricket, especially in ODIs. Virat Kohli has instilled a great sense of confidence in him which has proved to be a great driver for his performances in ODI cricket.

Chahal has now become a regular member of the Indian squad for some time now. He had a decent start to the Asia Cup with an exceptional performance in India's opening game against Hong Kong. However, he has failed to emulate the same in the subsequent matches. But, he has managed to keep the batsmen on their toes with a low economy rate.

In today's game against the arch-rivals Pakistan, Chahal will look to achieve a milestone in ODI cricket. The leggie needs only two wickets to become the fifth fastest Indian bowler to take 50 ODI wickets. Moreover, he will also become the second fastest Indian spinner after Kuldeep Yadav to achieve the feat of 50 ODI wickets.

#2 MS Dhoni five shy of 800 dismissals in international cricket

Another player who is on the brink of a unique milestone is the Indian stalwart MS Dhoni. Safe to say, MS has been the pillar of the Indian team for quite a long time now. With rich experience by his side, Dhoni has always been a great addition to the Indian side. His exceptional wicket-keeping skills is still unmatched in present generation limited overs cricket.

MS Dhoni is just short of a prominent milestone in international cricket. He needs five more dismissals to complete the gigantic number of 800 dismissals in international cricket. With this, he will become the third player overall and the first Indian to achieve this feat.

Although five seems to be a too bigger number for the upcoming game, the uncertain nature of cricket keeps it very much on the cards.

#3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar inching towards 100-wickets mark in ODIs

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is another bowler on the list who is close to an ODI milestone. Bhuvi made an exceptional comeback after having been sidelined due to an injury. Although he didn't have a good opening game against Hong Kong, he made up for it with some exuberant performances in the games that followed.

Kumar is just four wickets shy of claiming 100 ODI wickets. Scalping these four wickets, he will become the 19th Indian to take 100 or more wickets in ODIs. Considering Kumar's recent form, the milestone looks very much achievable in the upcoming game.

#4 Rohit Sharma set to reach 7000 ODI runs

Rohit Sharma, the current Indian skipper in the absence of Kohli, is set to reach a milestone in ODI cricket. Till now, Rohit has had a great run in the tournament with two fifty-plus scores. Thus, come the game against Pakistan, the Indian captain will look to continue his fine form with the bat.

Hitman needs to score 94 more runs to breach the 7000 runs mark in ODI cricket. Scoring these runs, Rohit will become the 8th Indian to do so. With the form he is in, the milestone looks very much achievable in today's match.

#5 MS Dhoni close to 10,000 runs for India (Dhoni's 10,079 runs: 9905 ODI runs for India and 174 for Asia XI)

MS Dhoni finds one more place on the list. Well, he alone counts for a book of records. But, this time he awaits a milestone as a batsman.

MS Dhoni is all set to score 10,000 career runs for India in ODI cricket. You might ask: How is this possible? He recently went past the 10,000-run mark. So, here is how.

Dhoni has scored 10,079 runs in ODI cricket out of which 174 runs have come for Asia XI in a three-match series against Africa XI in 2007. Hence, in the game against Pakistan, Dhoni will need 95 more runs to complete 10,000 runs for India in ODIs.