India and Pakistan are set to face off in a thrilling cricket match at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this Saturday. Fans worldwide are buzzing with excitement for this showdown.
India, with two World Cup wins under their belt, is gearing up to battle Pakistan, who has clinched the title once before. Both teams have been on a winning streak with two victories each in this 2023 World Cup. This will be their 8th face-off in World Cup history.
Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India is showing strong form since their impressive run in the 2023 Asia Cup. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, won’t be an easy competitor and is sure to put up a fierce fight.
As for team changes, Mohammed Shami, familiar with the Ahmedabad pitch, might step in for Shardul Thakur. Shubman Gill’s participation is still up in the air. For Pakistan, Babar may stick to his current team, but there’s potential for a switch between Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman.
So far in the series: India beat Australia and Afghanistan in Chennai and Delhi. The victory over Australia was a standout, thanks to KL Rahul and Virat Kohli’s stellar partnership, successfully chasing a 200-run target. Against Afghanistan, India won comfortably, achieving a 273-run target in just 35 overs. During this match, Rohit Sharma set new records, including becoming the fastest Indian to reach 1000 World Cup runs.
Pakistan’s confidence is high after their win over The Netherlands and a record-setting chase against Sri Lanka, marking the highest run chase in World Cup history.
Past Match-ups: India and Pakistan have played each other 134 times in ODIs. Pakistan leads with 73 wins to India’s 56, and five matches have ended in a draw. Since 2011, India has bested Pakistan in 9 of their 14 encounters. Pakistan’s last victory against India was in the 2017 Champions Trophy Final, but India triumphed in the 2023 Asia Cup with a significant win.
Players to Watch: For India, all eyes are on Virat Kohli. His recent ODI scores showcase his form, and he’s a key player against Pakistan. His stats against the rival team are impressive, making his wicket a prime target for Pakistan.
On Pakistan’s side, Mohammad Rizwan stands out. As the top scorer for Pakistan in 2023, he has been instrumental in their recent wins.
Probable Line-ups:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill or 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 or Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Prediction:
Given Babar Azam’s recent form and Pakistan’s reliance on spinners against a strong Indian batting lineup, it will be a tough match for both teams. The team batting first often has an advantage in Ahmedabad. Still, based on current form and home advantage with a massive crowd backing them, India seems to have the upper hand.
