India, Feb. 15 -- At India's net session on the eve of their marquee T20 World Cup clash with Pakistan, the most revealing moment wasn't a big hit into the stands. It was a piece of theatre with a purpose. Captain Suryakumar Yadav was spotted rolling his arm over with a distinct stutter - a brief pause at the crease before release - mimicking the stop-start rhythm that has become the signature of Pakistan offspinner Usman Tariq. In a tournament where the margins are brutally small and familiarity can be a competitive advantage, the clip landed because it felt like a coded message: India are preparing for a bowler who does not allow batters the comfort of routine.

Tariq's threat is not just his off-spin. It is the disruption. He asks a ba...