Pakistan have by no means tasted victory over India within the ODI World Cup.
When Babar Azam and his boys take the sector at Gujarat’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, they’ll have just one goal. A triumph to lastly break the curse and make the head-to-head report 1-7. To do it on the world’s greatest cricket stadium may, little doubt, make the win sweeter.
However it isn’t going to be straightforward. The Males In Blue look a power to reckon with at residence having humbled Australia and Afghanistan within the match already. From captain Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, India’s massive weapons are firing and look hungry for extra. Because the Asian powerhouses are all set for the much-anticipated World Cup faceoff, listed here are 5 issues for die-hard followers to recollect.
1. India vs Pakistan World Cup tie climate forecast: Whereas earlier experiences advised minimal to no likelihood of rain within the metropolis on Saturday, a report by the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad has predicted overcast circumstances with mild showers. The day temperature is anticipated to be between 30-35 levels Celsius.
2. Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report: The floor is anticipated to be batting-friendly. However the seamers might get some additional bounce as a recent observe can be dished out for the mouthwatering contest, experiences mentioned. It is not going to be a fallacious name for the toss-winning captain to area first because the ball comes onto the bat higher below the lights in Ahmedabad.
3. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening spell: With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in type, Pakistan’s hopes of an early breakthrough primarily depend upon how nicely left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first spell pans out. Identified to select wickets early within the innings, Afridi must be in his component on Saturday. The speedster has not fairly delivered but within the match as now could possibly be the precise time. Towards Sri Lanka, he leaked 66 runs from 9 overs (Eco 7.33) and took one wicket. Though he was extra economical towards the Netherlands (7-0-37-1), Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf had picked extra wickets than him.
4. Kuldeep Yadav vs Babar Azam — A winner-takes-all battle: Mohammed Rizwan was phenomenal towards Sri Lanka and Abdullah Shafique confirmed his class. There may be Saud Shakeel, who might be an ‘x-factor’ on a given day. However Pakistan’s batting is determined by its skipper Babar Azam.
The Pak skipper was dismissed for five by the Dutch and 10 by the Lankans. In Motera’s batting-friendly pitch, Babar Azam going beast mode can be perfect for the guests.
ALSO READ: Excellent news for Indian followers, Shubman Gill returns to nets forward of WC conflict with Pakistan
Enter Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner’s leg-break landed Babar in a large number in Manchester in 2019, could possibly be watched on loop as many instances as one can. In between, Kuldeep had misplaced that flight, loop, dip and deception however he has regained these belongings and the spinner can spell doom for Babar and his staff. The Asia Cup match in Colombo is a working example. However to nullify Kuldeep, Pakistan have to go previous the primary spell of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
5. Spin or medium tempo – India’s nice dilemma: The one query that India search reply is whether or not to play Ravi Ashwin or Shardul Thakur. The skilled off-spinner and bowling all-rounder will battle it out for the No. 8 slot. If the pitch is a batting paradise, then Shardul is a better option but when there’s a little bit of grip obtainable, Ashwin is the extra viable possibility with longer boundaries on both sides.
Groups: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.