India and Pakistan are gearing up for a thrilling clash at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this coming Saturday. This encounter has garnered global attention, with fans eagerly awaiting the match.
India, a two-time World Cup champion, is all set to lock horns with Pakistan, who has taken the trophy home once. In the current 2023 World Cup, both teams are undefeated, having won two matches each. This will mark their 8th encounter in World Cup tournaments.
India, under the guidance of Rohit Sharma, has been in excellent shape, especially after their commendable performance in the 2023 Asia Cup. On the other side, Pakistan, captained by Babar Azam, promises a challenging match.
In terms of team selection, considering the conditions of the Ahmedabad pitch, Mohammed Shami might replace Shardul Thakur. There’s uncertainty around Shubman Gill’s inclusion. For Pakistan, while Babar could retain the team, a switch between Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman is possible.
Recent Performances: India secured wins over Australia and Afghanistan in Chennai and Delhi, respectively. Their chase against Australia, led by KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, was memorable, achieving a 200-run target. Against Afghanistan, India effortlessly reached a 273-run goal in just 35 overs. In this game, Rohit Sharma achieved new milestones, including being the quickest Indian to accumulate 1000 World Cup runs.
Pakistan is riding high on confidence after their victories against The Netherlands and a remarkable chase versus Sri Lanka, registering the highest run chase in World Cup history.
Historical Record: India and Pakistan have faced off 134 times in ODIs. With 73 victories, Pakistan holds a slight edge over India’s 56 wins, while five matches were inconclusive. Post 2011, out of 14 matches, India has claimed 9 victories. While Pakistan emerged victorious in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final, India clinched a win in the recent 2023 Asia Cup.
Key Players: For India, Virat Kohli remains the player to watch. He’s been in top form and has consistently delivered against Pakistan. His wicket will undoubtedly be the most sought-after by the Pakistani bowlers.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan has been shining bright. As their top run-getter in 2023, he’s been pivotal to their success.
Expected Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill/Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Prediction: While Babar Azam’s form and Pakistan’s spin attack will challenge the potent Indian batting side, batting first might be beneficial in Ahmedabad. Considering recent performances and the boost from the home crowd, India appears to be the slight favorite.
