The 12th and the biggest match of World Cup 2023 will be played on 14th October, Saturday at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. With more the 1 Lac fans in the stadium, the Pakistan vs India clash is expected to be a high voltage like always. Following is the preview of Pakistan vs India match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pakistan vs India Preview
Both teams stand equal on the points table. Pakistan have defeated Sri Lanka and Netherlands in their first two games while India have defeated Afghanistan and Australia in their first two encounters. India is slightly ahead based on their net run rate. Whoever wins this game will either go at the 2nd or the top spot of the points table of the world cup 2023.
India has beaten Pakistan once this year, in Asia Cup 2023. Pakistan will be under the pump to level the score this time. India on the other hand would have the expectations of millions on their back to continue their domination. The question is whether the IndoPak jinx will be broken or not? Whether Pakistan will finally register their first ODI world cup win against India or not? Well, the Pakistani skipper thinks so as he stated in the pre match press conference that they did it in world t20 earlier, and they do possess the capability to do it this time.
India have got everything in their favor as of now, the fans, the pitch, Shubman Gill getting fit for the game and a fully functional and performing spin attack. Pakistan on the other hand will have to deal with crowd pressure and a non-performing spin attack.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch is expected to be good for batting on a warm day. If it is tradition Ahmedabad wicket, then toss holds importance, as whoever wins the toss would want to bowl first as later in the night, it would be difficult to bowl with dew. India would begin this game as favorites.
India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 Playing 11
Pakistan will likely go with the same lineup. If they want to be a little aggressive from the top, they can get in Fakhar Zaman to replace Imam-ul-Haq.
Probable: Fakhar Zaman/Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, M Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali.
Team India will bring in Shubman Gill. One of Ishan Kishan or Shreyas Iyer will have to sit out. Ishan has been doing well and he did bat well in the Asia Cup encounter against Pakistan so he might get an edge there.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan vs India Head to Head Record
Pakistan and India have played 7 games in ICC Cricket World Cup history with India winning all 7. Overall in ODI Cricket, Pakistan is way ahead in this rivalry. Out of 134 games in ODI history between the two sides , Pakistan have won 73 while India have won 56. 5 games ended without a result.
Players to watch-out for
The centurions of previous game, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan will be key for Pakistan. Both proved that in supporting conditions for the batters, Pakistan can do wonders. Expectations will be high from them this time as well.
India should come prepare for Hasan Ali more than Shaheen. Hasan Ali has taken early wickets in both of Pakistan’s previous games, if he does the same against India as well, thing would become difficult for India then.
From the Indian side, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain the biggest threat. Sharma smashed an explosive hundred against Afghanistan and he is also the record holder for most world cup centuries and most sixes in international cricket. So keeping his stellar record in mind, Pakistan must dismiss him early to have an edge in the game. Kohli on the other hand has a history of smashing Pakistan. He has 2 world cup centuries against Pakistan, so he has that psychological advantage over Pakistan.
Pakistan also need to look out for Kuldeep Yadav. The wrist spinner has been very good this year in ODIs for India and he has the variety that Pakistani batters do not have much chance to bat against in the nets to prepare.
Pakistan vs India Toss Prediction
Pakistan is likely to win the toss and they will bowl first.
Indo Pak Match Prediction World Cup 2023
India will begin as favorites with 60% chance of winning.
